On Tuesday evening, Borussia Dortmund beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at the Parc des Princes to secure their place in the 2024 Champions League final with a 2-0 aggregate victory.
Despite this, their clash with the Parisians was far from straightforward. Registering a remarkable 30 shots and an xG of 3.25, as per Fotmob, PSG continuously questioned Dortmund’s rearguard for 90 minutes.
Regardless, a player-of-the-match performance from Mats Hummels ensured that the French champions failed to find a way past Gregor Kobel’s goal. A staggering 20 defensive actions saw Hummels almost single-handedly frustrate PSG, who once again missed out on the chance to claim the Champions League.
However, Hummels was not solely responsible for Dortmund’s phenomenal achievement. His centre-back partner Nico Schlotterbeck rose to the occasion, while the midfield and forward line did their part to get BvB over the line, with Jadon Sancho registering seven defensive actions.
Nonetheless, it was in the attacking department that an impressive Champions League record was broken. According to Opta, at 35 years and 143 days old, Hummels became the oldest German to score in a Champions League knockout game.
A towering header from Julian Brandt’s corner after 50 minutes saw Dortmund double their advantage over the tie, placing themselves in a commanding position. A night to remember for Die Schwarzgelben, but one that will mean just a little bit more for Mats Hummels.
GGFN | Will Shopland
