Borussia Dortmund vs Atletico Madrid. UEFA Champions League Quarter Final.
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5-4
Report as Borussia Dortmund beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 in second leg of Champions League quarter-final tie, winning 5-4 on agg; goals from Julian Brandt, Ian Maatsen, Niclas Fullkrug and Marcel Sabitzer sets up semi-final with PSG; Mats Hummels own goal & Angel Correa had given Atleti hope
Wednesday 17 April 2024 08:10, UK
Borussia Dortmund beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 on the night and 5-4 on aggregate to set up a mouth-watering Champions League semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, the hosts needed to score first at a rocking Westfalenstadion and that is exactly what they did, taking the lead thanks to Julian Brandt's well-taken 34th-minute strike.
Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen doubled Dortmund's lead just five minutes later after a lovely flowing move, only for Atletico to hit back in the second half as Diego Simeone's three half-time changes had an immediate effect.
Mats Hummels's own goal four minutes after the interval gave the visitors the impetus they needed, with substitute Angel Correa pulling them level on the night - and ahead on aggregate - just past the hour mark.
However, those twin strikes only served to wake the home team up as first Niclas Fullkrug's (71) wonderful glancing header brought them level again on aggregate, before an equally eye-catching finish from Marcel Sabitzer (74) saw them progress.
Without their first-leg scorer Sebastian Haller due to an ankle injury, Dortmund had to shuffle their pack, meaning a start for Julian Brandt and it was the experienced Germany international who made the crucial first-half breakthrough.
The playmaker collected Hummels' lofted pass in the box, before beating Jan Oblak at his near post, although the Atleti No 1 could have done better, not that the 'keeper could have done much about the hosts' second soon after.
Jadon Sancho, Karim Adeyemi and Sabitzer were all involved, with the latter's clever pass releasing Maatsen into the box, with the Dutchman finding the far corner with a low drive to put Dortmund ahead on aggregate at the interval.
Simeone responded to his team's lethargic first-half display by making a triple change at the break, and they worked as the visitors scored twice in the opening 20 minutes of the second period to seemingly take control of the tie.
Firstly, Hummels inadvertently stuck his leg out to deflect Mario Hermoso's far-post header past Gregor Kobel, before Correa - a lively presence after coming on at the break - put his side ahead on aggregate with an emphatic finish following a goalmouth scramble.
Dortmund showed great heart, though, to hit back in the final 20 minutes thanks to two world-class finishes from Fullkrug's head, after being set up by Sabitzer's inviting cross, before the Austrian himself struck a spectacular winner from the edge of the area to send the Westfalenstadion into raptures and set up a semi-final date with PSG, who they faced in the group stage.
Analysis by Sky Sports' Richard Morgan:
Marcel Sabitzer showed glimpses of his obvious talent during last season's six-month loan stay at Man Utd, albeit not enough to convince manager Erik ten Hag to turn his short-term stay at Old Trafford into a permanent move last summer.
However, given the Austria international's impressive display to help his side edge through to the Champions League semi-finals after a 5-4 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid, maybe United and Ten Hag erred in that decision.
The 30-year-old joined Borussia Dortmund instead in July and has so far contributed six goals and eight assists in 34 games in total, including two assists and a goal to help see off Atleti in a rousing quarter-final on Tuesday.
And just when his side needed him, Sabitzer first produced a wonderful cross from the left flank which Niclas Fullkrug headed home, before scoring the winner minutes later with a characteristic long-range strike.
Analysis by Sky Sports' Richard Morgan:
When Angel Correa thumped Atletico 4-3 ahead on aggregate with just 25 minutes left to play at the Westfalenstadion, this pulsating last-eight tie appeared to have taken its final twist.
However, there was always this nagging feeling that this Atleti side did not have the usual DNA of most Diego Simeone teams, in that they had appeared defensively weak throughout the two ties.
And as it proved as back roared Dortmund to score twice themselves in quick time and the post-match stats said it all as the visitors conceded four or more goals in a Champions League knockout stage game for just the second time, while they also gave up five shots on target in the first half of a Champions League knockout stage match for the first time since May 2017.
Ultimately, that was to prove decisive as Simeone's men just could not hold on for another semi-final appearance…
Dortmund face Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday April 21, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 4.30pm.
Atletico Madrid, sitting fourth in LaLiga, visit Alaves on Sunday. Kick-off 5.30pm.
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