Champions battle: Dortmund’s defence neutralises Mbappe as they beat PSG 1-0

Phenomenal
Phenomenal
Kylian Mbappe

Borussia Dortmund have cause to salute their defence as they stopped Kyllian Mbappe from wreaking any havoc on Wednesday when they met PSG in the Champions League semi-final first leg..

This is particularly after Dortmund had secured the only goal of the duel.

Niclas Fuellkrug fired in the first-half goal to seal the victory, Reuters/NAN reports.

It adds that Nico Schlotterbeck floated a pass into Fuellkrug’s path and the Germany forward controlled the ball with a perfect first touch before drilling a low shot past keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 36th minute.

PSG, fresh from being crowned Ligue 1 champions and desperate to win their first ever Champions League trophy, found it hard going against a disciplined German defence, especially in the first half with forward Kylian Mbappe largely neutralised.

The French side improved after the break and went agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 52nd with Mbappe curling a shot onto the far post and then Achraf Hakimi also hitting the woodwork on the rebound.

Only four minutes later Fabian Ruiz saw his stooping header sail wide after being left completely unmarked in the box before Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel kept out Ousmane Dembele’s close range effort in the 71st.

Dortmund, winners in 1997 and looking to reach their first final since 2013, soaked up the pressure as PSG’s Vitinha narrowly missed the target 10 minutes later to leave the French side needing a win in Tuesday’s return leg in Paris.

The winners of the tie will face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid, who drew 2-2 in Tuesday’s first leg in Munich.

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