Man of the Match: Hummels (8)
The German veteran was a rock at the back for Dortmund last night. He was on hand to repel most of PSG’s aerial balls, including a crucial intervention against Mbappé in the first half. Having been named Man of the Match in the first leg, Hummels delivered another solid performance, using his experience to snuff out danger whenever it threatened his team’s area, with the exception of a mistimed tackle on Dembélé just inches outside the box, and most importantly, by opening the scoring from a corner (50th). The centre-back was undoubtedly the star of this two-legged tie.
Paris Saint-Germain
Donnarumma (5): It’s hard to judge the Parisian keeper tonight. He didn’t have a lot of work to do, apart from that crucial save in the 35th minute against Adeyemi and a few easy catches. The Italian could possibly have done better on Hummels’ opener, as he remained rooted to his line, but it’s hard to blame him for anything tonight.
Hakimi (5.5): The Moroccan right-back is one of the few Parisians who can walk away with their heads held high. Up against Adeyemi, he barely let anything past him, turning his flank into an impregnable fortress. He knew when and how to put his foot or body in to stop his opponents from causing harm. Offensively, we’ve seen him a bit more inspired than tonight.
Marquinhos (6): The Parisian captain put in a good performance tonight. He was quite imposing in the duels, facing a tough customer like Niclas Füllkrug, and was always well-positioned and intelligent in his own box. The Brazilian was also quite clean in his passing and was good when he had to go and get balls away from his own box. It should be noted, however, that it was his poor pass to Donnarumma that led to the German goal from a corner.
Beraldo (4): Back in the starting line-up following Lucas Hernandez’s injury, the Brazilian was having a rather decent game, not making any mistakes and looking quite composed… until the start of the second half, when he completely let go of Hummels on that corner and allowed the German defender to score a header with ease. Just one mistake, admittedly, but a terrible one at this level.
Nuno Mendes (5): Having struggled in the first leg in Germany, he was better tonight. Defensively at least, as he was much less exposed on his side. He had a Jadon Sancho inspired in front of him, but the Portuguese won most of his duels against the Englishman. He created a bit of danger in front of goal in the second half, even smashing a long-range shot against the post (61st).
Zaïre-Emery (3): The Parisian youngster had a game to forget, overwhelmed by the events. This confirms a slightly worrying trend, even though it’s worth remembering that we’re talking about a very young player. The midfielder had no impact on the game and was quite a ghost, just as he struggled to read and anticipate Dortmund’s transitions. He had a great chance on the return from the dressing room, but he hit the post (47th). Luis Enrique took him off in the 75th minute to bring in Kang-In Lee, who was eager.
Vitinha (6.5): The Portuguese midfielder grew into the game. A bit quiet at the start, then got better and better as the game went on, with some good moves to his name. He was the only Parisian who tried things and tried to break the lines rather than playing it safe, as shown by that great move that ended with a shot too high from Ramos (60th). He was everywhere in midfield in the second half, both creating and winning the ball back, and the bar prevented him from scoring a golazo (88th). Unlike his midfield and attacking partners, the Portuguese was at the level of a Champions League semi-final.
Fabian Ruiz (4): The Spaniard had a tough evening, much like his midfield partners. He was relatively uninvolved with the ball, leaving most of the playmaking responsibility to Vitinha and playing too conservatively. While he ventured forward regularly, often being on the edge of the box, it wasn’t enough for a game of this magnitude. Marco Asensio replaced him in the 63rd minute but didn’t necessarily fare better than his compatriot.
Dembélé (3.5): On the right flank of the Parisian attack, Dembouz was quite subdued for much of the first half. And when he did get involved, he wasn’t very inspired. The former BVB player didn’t always make the most of promising situations, like that off-target shot in the box (30th minute). Moreover, he delivered quite a few wayward crosses and made poor decisions in the final third, squandering potentially promising situations for his team.
G. Ramos (4): Luis Enrique’s surprise selection tonight. Many Parisian fans were calling for him, but it’s fair to say he didn’t quite live up to expectations, failing to hit the target when he should have. A very dangerous shot early in the game, another effort over the bar in the 60th minute, and then another off-target attempt a few minutes later. And not much else to report. While he was generally poorly served by his teammates and found himself isolated amidst all the German defenders, he couldn’t capitalize on his chances. Replaced by Barcola in the 63rd minute, who didn’t make much of an impact.
Mbappé (2): In his final European game at the Parc des Princes, the future Real Madrid player wanted to shine. Very eager in both attacking and defensive efforts (which is commendable), he struggled to find his rhythm. A lot of technical errors and difficulty making a difference with the ball. A trend that continued throughout the game, where the Bondynois hardly succeeded in anything and completely missed the mark. Even when he moved centrally after Ramos’ substitution, he still struggled and showed clear signs of frustration and desperation. A bit unlucky too, as he hit the crossbar in the 86th minute. A huge disappointment overall.
Borussia Dortmund
Kobel (6): Despite facing some shots, the Swiss goalkeeper wasn’t overly troubled but remained vigilant against Parisian threats. He made a crucial save late in the match against Mbappé, although he was also aided by his posts and defenders tonight.
Ryerson (7): Putting in the effort, the full-back effectively shut down his right flank, especially in the first half. His main focus was containing Mbappé, which he did well by keeping him away from dangerous areas. He also dealt solidly with Paris’ crosses, successfully deflecting them.
Hummels (8): See above.
Schlotterbeck (7): Like his defensive partner, he was solid throughout the match, much like in the first leg. He nearly deflected a Fabian Ruiz shot – off target – into his own net but remained steadfast in repelling Paris’ crosses and disrupting PSG attackers. His forays forward with the ball provided relief for his team in the first half.
Maatsen (5.5): The young full-back, on loan from Chelsea, impressed with his forward passes in the first half. Defensively, he was supported by Adeyemi, as in the first leg, to block the flank. Dembélé’s lack of luck also aided him defensively.
Sabitzer (5): Operating in the shadows tonight, Sabitzer spent most of the game nullifying Parisian attacks. He showed little going forward, having a relatively uneventful match.
Can (5): The German midfielder lost more balls than in the first leg but wasn’t significantly troubled by PSG’s play. He maintained balance in midfield and provided guidance as captain.
Sancho (6): The Englishman continued with his dribbling against Nuno Mendes and company, sometimes overly so, similar to the first leg. Like his counterpart on the left, Sancho rolled up his sleeves to help Ryerson defend. Less influential than in the first leg due to the match’s scenario. Substituted for Süle (68th minute).
Brandt (6.5): Playing as a number 10 in attack, the midfielder showcased his technical ability and passing. He provided the assist for Hummels’ goal after a well-taken corner. Like his teammates, he didn’t shy away from defensive duties, lending a hand in midfield and proving quite effective in that regard. Substituted for Nmecha (85th minute).
Adeyemi (6): Like in the first leg, the winger put in a lot of effort to help his team defend, providing numerical superiority on the left flank. He posed a significant threat on the counter-attack due to his speed, especially in the biggest chance of the first half, but was thwarted by a superb save from Donnarumma. Replaced before the hour mark by Marco Reus (56th minute).
Füllkrug (4): The centre-forward was useful in his hold-up play to retain possession but made too many technical errors to trouble the Parisian defence tonight. No real chances for him, and the match’s scenario didn’t work in his favour.
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