On Wednesday, May 1, European football's journey to the Champions League final continues.
The first match of the second semi-final match will take place in Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park, where PSG will visit Borussia.
While most fans would prefer another matchup, this battle could be a real eye-opener.
Someone thinks that the game between Bayern and Real Madrid is worthy of the final, and he will be right. But perhaps the next cup winner is hidden in the pair of Borussia and PSG.
ISPORT broke down the motivations of each team, their best players, and the history they share.
Top story: a club legend will try (finally?) to win the Champions League
Both clubs have players who have long dreamed of winning the main European Cup. And despite the fact that they had all already taken part in the final fight, they lost their battles.
Borussia have two such players – Marco Reus and Mats Hummels. Back in 2013, they lost the Champions League final not to some foreign team, but to their main rival, Bayern Munich (1:2).
Hummels announced during this season that he was retiring, and therefore this is really his last chance to lift the coveted cup over his head.. Although recently there was information that the club is trying to convince the center back to stay for another season.
With Royce the situation is more complicated. The 34-year-old midfielder's contract is coming to an end and everything is heading towards the fact that he will leave his home team as a free agent. Considering the player’s injury history, a noticeable decline in some characteristics, as well as Dortmund’s focus on younger players, the club’s decision not to renew the contract seems logical.
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For both players, winning the Champions League will be a wonderful ending to their careers – perhaps Marco will decide to retire from football in the event of a triumph, which will be very beautiful.
The Bumblebees have never made it this far in the past eleven years, but this season they have a real chance to change that.
It’s strange that last year’s Borussia, which was head and shoulders above the current one, couldn’t perform so well. But this is football, there is no need to look for meaning in it.
What about PSG? There, too, you can highlight two club legends who already have this status, despite their age. And as in the case of Borussia, the Parisians relatively recently also visited the Champions League final, and also lost it. And also Bayern (0:1).
Team captain Marquinhos has been faithfully serving the capital team for 11 years. That 2020 final was his only chance so far to become a Champions League winner.. Now he stands two steps away from the opportunity to correct the failure of 4 years ago.
Kylian Mbappe is only 25 years old, but he is already rightfully considered a PSG legend, becoming the top scorer in the club's history. Perhaps someone thought that he would remain in Paris until the very end of his career, but the forward himself decided otherwise.
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Everyone knows exactly where he's going this summer.. Interestingly, in the finale he may meet exactly his destination. But until the end of the season he will represent PSG and his desire to win the Champions League with this club remains unchanged.
What should you keep an eye on?
It is clear that everyone in PSG will be watching Mbappe, but we should not forget about Ousmane Dembele. The Frenchman sent Barcelona home without any compassion, not forgetting to celebrate both of his goals against his former team.
Now he will meet with another of his “ex”. There is a feeling that in this case, too, the player will forget about his Dortmund memories for two matches (especially considering the scandal with which he left).
We will also highlight Vitinha, who showed himself well in the confrontation with Barcelona and scored in both meetings.
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Borussia should highlight Hummels. It was the centerback's throws behind Atlético's defenders in the return game that helped the Germans overcome the Spanish defensive lines.
Important will be Niklas Fullkrug's fight with PSG defenders in the penalty area and Karim Adeyemi's explosiveness on the flank. The question remains for Donniel Malen, whether he will have time to return and in what condition he will be. The game will be led by Julian Brandt, who has become the new team leader.
You can also note the home stands factor. Yes, Parisians know how to support their favorites, but they also love to boo them in difficult moments. So if we compare them with Dortmund fans, then preference goes to the “yellow wall” of Westfalenstadion.
Interesting Facts
Borussia and PSG played only six matches between themselves (1 victory for the Germans, 2 victories for the French, 3 draws, goal difference 4:7); the most popular score: 2:0 and 1:1 (twice each); the teams met this year at the group stage – then PSG won the home match (2:0), and a draw was recorded in Dortmund (1:1); for Borussia this is the fifth semi-final in the club's history, for PSG – the fourth; unlike their future opponent, the Bumblebees won the Champions League (1997); the best scorers in the history of both clubs in the Champions League can meet on the field: Mbappe has 42 goals, Reus has 24; at the same time, Reus is also the Borussia record holder for the number of matches played in the tournament (69). For PSG, this player is Marquinhos (89).
Prediction : teams know how and love to score a lot, and the semi-final will be no exception. However, only one will get a place in the final, and that is Borussia.
Alexey Pogorelov, ISPORT.ua
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