Borussia Dortmund vs PSG: Preview, Prediction & Betting Tips

A place in the Champions League final is at stake for Borussia Dortmund and PSG as they face off in the semi-final first leg in Germany.

Date: 01/05/24

Kick-off time: 20:00

Venue: Signal Iduna Park

Both teams had to overcome first-leg deficits in the quarterfinals to reach this stage of the competition. Borussia Dortmund were 2-1 losers at Atletico Madrid but won a 4-2 thriller in the second leg to advance. PSG were defeated 3-2 at home by Barcelona, and travelled to Spain at a major disadvantage. Things got worse as they went a goal down, though a red card for the hosts allowed them to score four unanswered and complete the comeback.

There should be goals in this game, the two teams have kept a combined seven clean sheets in 20 matches. The visitors have found the back of the net 19 times in this season’s competitions and let in 13. Meanwhile, Dortmund have been less potent in attack with 15 goals scored, but have been meaner at the back, conceding just nine.

Plenty of attacking talent will be on display at both ends, with PSG possessing the tournament’s current top scorer in Kylian Mbappe, who has netted eight times so far. The Germans have been spreading the goals out, with no player scoring more than two times. However, Niclas Fullkrug has bagged 14 in all competitions, whilst also providing 11 assists, so he will be one the away side will need to contain.

These two sides have faced off just four times, including in this season’s group stages. PSG won 2-0 at home and drew 1-1 away. The last time they met in the knockouts was in 2020 in the round of 16, in which PSG came out on top 3-2 on aggregate en route to the final. The first leg in that tie was held at Signal Iduna Park, and Dortmund were 2-1 winners, with Erling Haaland scoring a brace. However, the French side recovered in the second leg to win 2-0. Neymar and Juan Bernat were the goalscorers.

Borussia Dortmund

Ian Maatsen missed the last game, so his availability is in question. Donyell Malen is expected to be out until mid-May with a thigh injury, whilst Sebastian Haller is sidelined with an ankle injury.

PSG

PSG have a mostly fit squad to choose from. Layvin Kurzawa is the only absentee with a back injury, though his return could come soon.

Borussia Dortmund

In their last five games, Borussia Dortmund have won two, lost two and drawn one. It has been a mixed stretch for Dortmund, but the highlight was progression in the Champions League. This run began with a first-leg quarter-final tie at Atletico Madrid, in which they lost 2-1. Rodrigo De Paul opened the scoring very early on, capitalising on an error at the back, before Samuel Lino doubled the score before half-time. The Spaniards seemed headed for a comfortable advantage heading into the second leg, but Sebastian Haller popped up with a crucial goal with nine minutes to go to put his side back in the tie. A week later the two sides met in Germany and played out a 4-2 thriller. Dortmund came out on top to advance, but it was a back-and-forth game. Julian Brandt put the home side ahead, and then Ian Maatsen scored a second to lead on aggregate. Mats Hummels converted into his own net to halve the deficit on the night, before Angel Correa made it 2-2. Two goals in three minutes from Niclas Fullkrug and Marcel Sabitzer swung the tie back in Dortmund’s favour, and this is how it remained.

Between these two legs, Dortmund travelled to Borussia Monchengladbach, in which they were 2-1 winners. All goals came in the first half with Sabitzer scoring a brace, including one penalty. Maximilian Wober pulled one back, but despite a second half red card for Karim Adeyemi, the visitors were able to hold on for the win.

League winners Bayer Leverkusen visited Signal Iduna Park and their unbeaten streak was mere minutes away from being snapped. Fullkrug opened the scoring in the 81st minute with what seemed to be the winner. However, Josip Stanisic equalised for the champions in the 97th minute. Their most recent outing was a trip to RB Leipzig. They were on the end of a crushing defeat, losing 4-1. Jadon Sancho gave them the lead, but four unanswered strikes from Lois Openda, Benjamin Sesko, Mohamed Simakan and Christoph Baumgartner completed the rout.

PSG

In their last five games, PSG have won three, drawn one and lost one. It has been a good stretch for PSG in which they were unbeaten in the league and ensured progression into the semi-finals of the Champions League. Their two-legged tie against Barcelona started this run, as they advanced 6-4 on aggregate. The first leg at home ended in defeat, however, as they fell 3-2. Barca took the lead through Raphinha before half-time, but Ousmane Dembele equalised against his former club just after the restart. PSG then took the lead thanks to a Vitinha strike, though another Raphinha goal and Andreas Christensen header turned it around. The second leg was dominated by PSG, who came out as 4-1 winners on the night. The final scoreline does not tell the full story as the Spaniards took the lead with a goal from Raphinha. However, Ronald Araujo’s red card after half an hour completely changed the trajectory of the game. Dembele levelled it and Vitinha put them ahead. Kylian Mbappe netted a brace to take the tie away.

They returned to league action with a comfortable 4-1 win at home to Lyon. It took just three minutes for them to take the lead as Nemanja Matic scored an own goal. The lead was doubled shortly after by Lucas Beraldo. Goncalo Ramos made it three, before Ernest Nuamah pulled one back. Ramos completed a brace to finish the scoring before half-time. They followed this with another 4-1 scoreline as they beat Lorient away. Dembele and Mbappe bagged a pair of goals each in the win.

Their most recent game was a home game against Le Havre. This was their only draw, though it was a dramatic 3-3. Bradley Barcola cancelled out an early opener for the visitors, but they fell behind once more before half-time. Abdoulaye Toure added a third from the spot before Achraf Hakimi pulled another back. They completed the comeback in the fifth minute of stoppage time through Goncalo Ramos.

This game should be extremely close fought, especially with the infamous home crowd backing Dortmund. However, the visitors possess arguably the best player in the world in Kylian Mbappe, and we expect this to give them the edge in the first leg – Borussia Dortmund 1-2 PSG

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Borussia Dortmund vs PSG will be available to watch on TNT Sports 1.

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