Champions League: Big night in Dortmund: BVB strikes into the semi-finals | EUROtoday

At Borussia Dortmund the magical competition environment of Europe's large Champions League nights is again. After a spectacle in opposition to Atlético Madrid, Dortmund's soccer cathedral resembled a madhouse. The BVB professionals danced for minutes in entrance of the trembling south stand, which, like your entire stadium, had longed for the 4:2 (2:0) win.

After reaching the premier class semi-finals for the primary time in eleven years, BVB can now even dream of one other showdown at Wembley. “It was a roller coaster ride, a really great evening,” mentioned BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke on Amazon Prime Video. “It’s not like that every day for Borussia Dortmund. The last time we were in the semi-finals was in 2013. This is a big day for all Borussia players.”

Unlike this Bundesliga season, coach Edin Terzic's workforce did effectively within the worldwide highlight and made up for the 1:2 loss six days earlier within the Spanish capital. In entrance of 81,365 spectators within the roaring Signal Iduna Park, Julian Brandt (thirty fourth minute), Ian Maatsen (thirty seventh), Niclas Füllkrug (71st) and Marcel Sabitzer (74th) scored the deserved victory. An personal purpose from Mats Hummels (forty ninth) and Angel Correa (sixty fourth) equalized in a extremely intense recreation.

A “great game for everyone here in the stadium”

“Nights like this are special, this Champions League season in particular is special,” mentioned Brandt. “Seeing all these happy faces here in the stadium is pure satisfaction.” Basically it was a “great game for everyone here in the stadium”.

BVB will face Paris Saint-Germain within the semi-finals in simply two weeks. The ultimate will happen on June 1st at London's Wembley Stadium, the place BVB misplaced the German duel with FC Bayern (1:2) in 2013.

BVB was there proper from the beginning

BVB confirmed proper from the beginning that they may truly be again on target for the ultimate. Neither workforce stopped at a gradual tempo. BVB ought to have taken the lead as early because the third minute – as an alternative of merely ending in entrance of the Atlético purpose, Sabitzer took the ball and was deflected. In return, Álvaro Morata appeared free in entrance of Gregor Kobel, however chipped previous the purpose. So issues acquired off to a livid begin.

Unlike within the first leg, the Dortmund workforce have been fully there aside from this scene. Borussia repeatedly seemed for passes to the lightning-fast Karim Adeyemi, who had two good alternatives early on (fifteenth/18th). Atlético, however, stood deep and let the hosts come. At first, nevertheless, not a lot got here from the Spaniards themselves.

When the visitors attacked, it was normally by the middle of the midfield, the place BVB left gaps. Atlético additionally left gaps, which Hummels took benefit of with a high-quality lob. The veteran's move landed at Brandt, who dribbled previous former Dortmund participant Axel Witsel within the penalty space and tunneled by goalkeeper Jan Oblak to take the lead. By now BVB was even higher within the recreation.

Borussia now pressed even larger, however Atlético appeared paralyzed. After a throw-in, the ball handed by Sabitzer to Maatsen, who shot it flat into the far nook from a decent angle. BVB performed like a frenzy in these minutes; it was their finest efficiency of the season to this point.

Dortmund comes again after setbacks

But Dortmund wouldn't be Dortmund if robust performances weren't all of a sudden adopted by surprising slumps. Atléti made three adjustments on the break – and all of a sudden got here into the sport. First Hummels scored an personal purpose after a nook, then Correa equalized after Dortmund's unlucky try at clearance. BVB may have collapsed now, however as an alternative they got here again.

In a memorable recreation, Füllkrug headed the ball into the purpose after Sabitzer's cross, and shortly afterwards the robust Austrian even scored to make it 4-2. At least now the environment in Signal Iduna Park was harking back to the large soccer nights within the premier class.

The triumph provides Borussia braveness for the tough ultimate stretch of the season with the upcoming troublesome video games in opposition to the German champions Bayer Leverkusen and their rivals RB Leipzig, who’ve the identical factors. Without wins, the chance of getting to make do with the Europa League subsequent season will increase.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:240416-99-700830/4