Borussia Dortmund Vs PSG: Match preview, team news, H2H record, possible lineup, prediction

Borussia Dortmund Look to Break Through Against Familiar Foe

Borussia Dortmund are just two wins away from their first Champions League final appearance since the 2012/13 season. However, they face a tough challenge in the form of Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.

Dortmund will be eager to establish an advantage at home before heading to Paris for the second leg. Their recent home record in the UCL knockout stages is far from ideal, with only six wins from their last 12 matches.

Adding to their concerns is a disappointing 4-1 defeat to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga over the weekend. This result significantly reduces their chances of finishing in the top four, though a fifth-place finish could still secure them a Champions League spot for next season.

Winning this year’s Champions League, of course, automatically qualifies them for the 2024/25 edition. However, getting past PSG won’t be easy. Dortmund failed to defeat the French giants twice when they shared a group earlier this season. Despite this, Dortmund remains undefeated at home against PSG in European competitions.

PSG Look to Shake Off Recent Struggles

Paris Saint-Germain were on the verge of a humiliating home defeat to relegation-threatened Le Havre on Saturday.

A dramatic late fightback saw them salvage a 3-3 draw, but they missed the opportunity to secure the Ligue 1 title. However, celebrations began 24 hours later when Monaco’s failure to win meant PSG secured their third consecutive league crown.

PSG will hope they’ve recovered from their Ligue 1 celebrations. Their recent away record in Germany is poor, with only one win in their last seven visits.

While the Ligue 1 title is almost a formality for PSG, the Champions League trophy remains elusive. This is their chance to reach their first European final since 2020. Consecutive away victories in the previous knockout rounds will give them confidence that they can head back to Paris with a positive result.

Players to Watch

• Ian Maatsen: The high-flying Dortmund full back scored in the quarter-finals and has a peculiar habit of making the score 2-0 in his last four goalscoring appearances.
• Kylian Mbappé: Don’t expect Maatsen’s potential 2-0 lead to stand for long. Mbappé netted a brace in PSG’s away leg victories during the last 16 and quarter-finals.

Doubtful

• Borussia Dortmund: Ramy Bensebaini (knee Injury) Julien Duranville (Muscle Injury)
• Paris Saint Germain: Presnel Kimpembe (Convalescence) Layvin Kurzawa (Coach’s Decision) Sergio Rico (Head Injury)

Hot Stat

In 12 of PSG’s last 13 Champions League away games, both teams found the net.