Preview - PSG vs Borussia Dortmund 12 March 20

[Harry85]

Champions League Last 16
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Borussia Dortmund
Thursday, March 12th, 2020
04:00am (GMT+8 Timing)
Stadium: Parc des Princes
First Leg Result: Borussia Dortmund 2 - 1 Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain: 
Last five matches form: D L W W W
CL Average goals per match: 2.57
CL Average goals against per match: 0.57
CL Top Scorer: Kylian Mbappé & Mauro Icardi (5)

Borussia Dortmund:
Last five matches form: W W W W W
CL Average goals per match: 1.43
CL Average goals against per match: 1.29
CL Top Scorer: Achraf Hakimi (4)

One of the most evenly poised of the last 16 second leg clashes in this seasons Champion's League comes at the Parc des Princes as French champions PSG take on Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund hold a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, but PSG will firmly believe they can turn that around in front of their own fans.

Kylian Mbappé has tested negative for the Coronavirus, but the illness he does have may see him miss this one. Thiago Silva, Colin Dagba and Ander Herrera do miss out through injury, whilst both Thomas Meunier and Marco Veratti are suspended. Marco Reus and Thomas Delaney are side-lined for Dortmund.

PSG have bounced back well from defeat in the opening leg, with three successive wins - hitting four past both Bordeaux and Dijon, and five against Lyon. They were perfect here in the group phase - keeping three clean-sheets in beating Galatasaray, Club Brugge and Real Madrid.

Dortmund are also going well and arrive in Paris seeking a sixth win in all competitions, and with confidence high on the back of a big win away at Gladbach last week. It was a little bit of a struggle away in the group stage though - beating Slavia Prague, but losing at both Barcelona and Inter Milan.

We would fancy a full-strength PSG here, but those absentees may just even things out against a Dortmund side whose already formidable goal threat has only been enhanced since the arrival of Erling Haaland.


Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 2 - 2 Borussia Dortmund

[Harry85]

Half time: 2 - 0
Full time: 2 - 0
Aggregate: 3 - 2
Shots: 8 - 11
Shots on target: 4 - 2
Corner Kicks:  5 - 4
Possession: 47% - 53%


Juan Bernat, Neymar, Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria and Kylian Mbappé were all booked for the home side at the Parc des Princes. Erling Haaland and Mats Hummel of Borussia also had their names taken by referee Anthony Taylor, whilst Emre Can was shown a straight red card in the 89th minute.


An excellent result for PSG in the competition which means more than any other to them at present. A league win is almost a formality these days, whereas winning this is anything but a formality. A pretty solid effort this - especially defensively against this goal-happy Dortmund outfit, and they managed to find just enough at the other end of the pitch to get the job done in what was an extremely evenly matched tie over the two legs.


Borussia were having there moments early, but the first big chance fell to Edinson Cavani of the home side. Played in to the right, keeper Roman Buerki got just enough on his shot across goal to direct it narrowly wide.


The home side then did take the lead in the 28th minute. A wicked in-swinging delivery by Angel Di Maria from a corner on the right finding Neymar to stoop and head home into the right hand side from around five yards out to the left.


PSG then grabbed the crucial second in the first minute of added on time at the end of the first half. Pablo Sarabia playing in a low ball from the right and Juan Bernat sticking out a leg around 12-yards out to the right and getting just enough on it to send the ball into the bottom left. 2-0 at the break.


Dortmund were pressing in the second half, but were mainly being restricted to efforts from range, as PSG held on pretty comfortably in the end.


Can was sent off late on for his part in what turned into an almighty melee over what seemed to be very little.


2-0 final score.