The French champions are on the brink of yet another European disappointment following their 1-0 loss at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park. The match held extra significance as it was the last Champions League home game for a Dortmund legend.
In the first leg, PSG had several scoring opportunities but failed to convert. Ousmane Dembélé, a former Dortmund player, struggled against his old club, while Dortmund's star striker, Niclas Füllkrug, gave PSG a lesson in finishing. His 36th-minute goal, a low, powerful shot past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, ultimately decided the match.
Dortmund's defensive performance also stood out, as they secured their fifth clean sheet of the Champions League campaign, the most of any team in the tournament. Meanwhile, PSG had a weekend off from domestic competition to prepare for the second leg, having already clinched the Ligue 1 title.
For PSG, the story of the Champions League has often been one of close calls but no cigar. Yet, Luis Enrique's team has shown they can bounce back from a deficit, having done so in the quarter-finals against Barcelona. They could make history by being the first team to reach the final after losing both the opening quarter-final and semi-final legs.
However, PSG's defense is a concern, as they have gone seven games without a clean sheet across all competitions. Their recent home record isn't encouraging either, with only three wins in their last eight matches at the Parc des Princes. Nonetheless, they have been consistently scoring at home, having netted in every home game since the opening weekend of the Ligue 1 season. Dortmund, however, has the best defensive record in this year's Champions League, and they aim to break PSG's 24-game home scoring streak to advance to the final.
Dortmund's semi-final win was a boost after a rough patch in the Bundesliga, where they drew with Bayer Leverkusen and were thrashed by RB Leipzig. Sunday's 5-1 victory over Augsburg lifted spirits, with Marco Reus, who recently announced his departure, scoring and providing two assists, while Youssoufa Moukoko scored a double.
Although Dortmund has less pressure to win the Champions League, as their victory over PSG secured a fifth spot for Bundesliga clubs, the team won't be taking it easy. They've had a hard time at the Parc des Princes, having failed to win or even score in three previous visits, including a 2-0 loss earlier in the tournament. If PSG can repeat that dominant performance, only Bayern Munich or Real Madrid would stand in their way of the elusive Champions League title.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
PSG defender Lucas Hernandez is dealing with heartbreak as his dreams of playing in Euro 2024 are dashed. Hernandez, who tore his ACL during France's 2022 World Cup run, suffered another knee injury in last week's Champions League semi-final first leg, and it's likely he won't play again until 2025.Hernandez joins the ranks of PSG's long-term absentees, including Presnel Kimpembe, who has an Achilles injury, and Layvin Kurzawa and Sergio Rico, who are dealing with back and head injuries, respectively. With Hernandez out, 20-year-old Lucas Beraldo is expected to fill in for him, as Milan Skriniar's form has been inconsistent.
PSG manager Luis Enrique might rethink his attacking lineup for the crucial second leg, as Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola had disappointing performances in the first leg. He could opt for Marco Asensio, Lee Kang-in, or Goncalo Ramos to play alongside Kylian Mbappé, who may be playing his last Champions League game for PSG if they don't turn things around on Tuesday.
Borussia Dortmund also faced some injury issues in the first leg. Right-back Julian Ryerson had to leave the field with cramps and missed the match against Augsburg, which Ramy Bensebaini (knee), Julien Duranville (muscle), and Sebastien Haller (discomfort) also skipped.
However, Ryerson and Haller are expected to recover in time for Tuesday's match. Karim Adeyemi, who was a standout performer in the first leg, took a knock over the weekend and will need to be assessed, but there's hope he'll be fit to play.
If he's cleared to play, Adeyemi will join a group of returning Dortmund players for the second leg, including Jadon Sancho, who had an impressive 12 successful dribbles in the first leg, the most by an English player in a Champions League match since records began.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery; Dembele, Ramos, Mbappe
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can; Sancho, Brandt, Adeyemi; Fullkrug
EXPERT PREDICTION
PSG 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
PSG really shot themselves in the foot with their missed chances in the first leg, hitting the goalpost 10 times during this season's Champions League campaign. But they've had a break from Ligue 1, giving Luis Enrique and his team time to review what went wrong and prepare for the second leg.
However, Dortmund's key players have also had time to recover, and they're driven to give their captain, Marco Reus, a Champions League medal before he leaves. This kind of motivation can make a big difference.
Given the stakes, two hours might not be enough to decide who moves on, but PSG has the advantage of playing at home in the raucous Parc des Princes. We're expecting a tense showdown, possibly even a penalty shootout, but we think PSG will keep their cool and clinch a spot in the final.
