Dortmund through to the UCL quarters

Borussia Dortmund progressed into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2021 as they defeated PSV Eindhoven by two goals to nil.

LINEUPS

DORTMUND XI: Kobel; Sule, Can*, Hummels, Maatsen; Ozcan, Sabitzer; Malen, Brandt, Sancho; Fullkrug

DORTMUND SUBS: Meyer, Lotka, Watjen, Bensebaini, Nmecha, Wolf, Reus, Duranville, Adeyemi, Moukoko, Bynoe-Gittens

PSV XI: Benitez; Teze, Schouten, Boscagli, Dest; Veerman, Til, Mauro Junior; Bakayoko, De Jong*, Tillman

PSV SUBS: Waterman, Drommel, Obispo, Andre Ramalho, Bella-Kotchap, Sambo, Van Aanholt, Ledezma, Babadi, Land, Pepi, Lozano

Action: We had drama early on at the Westfalenstadion when Jadon Sancho made it two goals in two games to give Borussia Dortmund a 2-1 aggregate lead after just three minutes.

The Englishman found himself with a little bit of space around 25 yards from goal and he struck low and hard past Walter Benitez in the PSV goal.

Benitez was then crucial in denying Dortmund doubling their lead when Julian Brandt struck at him but then he made a crucial follow up to deny Donyell Malen.

PSV remain unbeaten in the Eredivisie but put in an extremely underwhelming performance in the first-half with Dortmund comfortable and looking likelier to score again.

PSV immediately produced a lot more early on in the second-half than they did in the entirety of the first-half with Hirving Lozano producing a well-hit effort that struck against the outside of the post.

Dortmund did appear to wrap the game up in the 77th minute when Niclas Fullkrug met Marco Reus’ free-kick with a low volley but the goal was eventually disallowed by VAR for Fullkrug being offside.

There was to be late drama when Luuk de Jong and Johan Bakayoko combined well in stoppage-time before the former blazed his effort over the bar from inside the box.

Dortmund then eventually did seal the victory when Isaac Babadi tripped over his own legs, allowing for Marcu Reus to run clean through on goal and then very nonchalantly knock the ball past Benitez to send the Germans through to the last eight.

Isaac Babadi slips and Marco Reus is in ⚡

Moments after Luuk de Jong misses down the other end, Reus sends Dortmund into the quarter-finals!#UCL

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2024

The big picture: As mentioned, Borussia Dortmund are heading into the quarters for the first time in three years as they distract themselves from an underwhelming campaign domestically, fighting to stay fourth. PSV are strolling to the Dutch title and they remain unbeaten in the Eredivisie but will only have domestic commitments to concern themselves with now.

Man of the match: Emre Can. The former Liverpool man is now playing at the heart of Dortmund’s defence and he was excellent in limiting PSV’s threat.

EVENTS

Kick-off

‘3 | GOAL: Sancho (0-1)

Half-time

’77 | DISALLOWED: Fullkrug

’90 | GOAL: Reus (2-0)

Full-time