Dortmund’s Dazzling Comeback: Storming into Champions League Semis After 11-Year Wait
Borussia Dortmund defeated Atletico Madrid 5-4 on aggregate, pulling off a spectacular comeback in the second half to advance to their first Champions League semi-final in eleven years.
After losing the first leg 2-1 in Madrid, Dortmund promptly turned the score around in the first half, with goals from Ian Maatsen, on loan from Chelsea, and Julian Brandt.
However, just after the restart, Mario Hermoso’s header deflected in off Dortmund defender Mats Hummels to give Atletico Madrid the advantage, 2-1 on the night and 3-3 overall.
In the 64th minute, Angel Correa scored a rebounding finish from close range to give Atletico Madrid a 4-3 aggregate lead.
However, Niclas Fullkrug’s looping header from Marcel Sabitzer’s cross brought Dortmund level once more in an exciting second half. This happened after 71 minutes.
After a superb quarter-final match, Sabitzer scored Dortmund’s winner with a drilled finish into the bottom corner less than three minutes later, setting up a semifinal matchup with Paris St-Germain.
Reaction to Tuesday’s Champions League action, including Borussia Dortmund’s victory over Atletico Madrid: “I remember dreaming of this when I was a kid.”
Dortmund’s defender Maatsen stated he had “been dreaming of [moments like this] as a kid” after his goal handed Dortmund a 3-2 aggregate lead.
According to him, “it is such an amazing feeling,” CBS said. “Especially now scoring a great goal and my first goal in the Champions League, so I am very grateful and so happy.”
Maatsen, 22, joined Dortmund on loan until the end of the season after agreeing to a contract extension with parent club Chelsea in January.
When the Dutchman was at Burnley on loan last year, he was participating in championship football.
“I always had the belief to play for Chelsea, but unfortunately, for some reasons, it didn’t work out,” he stated.
But now that I’m here, I want to express my gratitude for this chance. I believe I performed admirably today. I came here to experience at the highest level and play my game.”
Dortmund aptly concludes an 11-year hiatus.
Dortmund had not advanced past the semifinals of the Champions League since their 2012–13 second-place finish.
Only four times has the German club progressed past the quarterfinals.
Given that they were trailing 2-0 in the first leg in Madrid and had faded from contention at the break, their accomplishment is all the more amazing.
However, in Germany, they were merciless. They got off to a fast start and came close to taking the lead via Sabitzer, but Cesar Azpilicueta, a former Chelsea defender, stopped his attempt on the line.
Alvaro Morata, the striker for Atletico, had a great early chance of his own, but he dinked the ball off target while through on goal.
Additionally, Correa missed a chance to give his team a 3-2 aggregate lead in the second half.
However, Dortmund came out on top in the end and had more opportunities if Atletico goalie Jan Oblak hadn’t made two outstanding stops in the closing moments to save Fullkrug and Sabitzer.
For the first time since falling short 4-1 against rival Real Madrid in the 2014 championship game, Atletico gave up four goals in a Champions League knockout match. It has now taken Diego Simeone’s team seven years to advance to Europe’s top competition’s final four.
For more information, visit https://sportzbiz.co.uk/