On Wednesday evening, Borussia Dortmund will host Paris Saint-Germain at the Westfalenstadion in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final tie. For Die Schwarzgelben, this offers them the opportunity to reach the final of Europe’s most prestigious tournament for the first time since 2013, when they fell short against Bayern Munich.
Regardless, while Der Rekordmeister could be their opposition in the final at Wembley yet again, the challenge of PSG stands in their way. Speaking to the Ruhr Nachrichten, left-back Ian Maatsen commented on how Dortmund will need the fans to get behind the side in a similar manner to the quarter-final against Atlético Madrid:
“That was crazy; I think that was one of the best games of my career. The BvB fans are incredible. As a player on the pitch, you feel their energy from the first moment of the warm-up until the very end. This stadium is great. Not many clubs in Europe have something like that.”
“We don’t have to ask them to do it; we just have to show them on the pitch that we are ready to give it our all. Then they do that too. Whether in the Bundesliga or the Champions League, our fans are behind us. We have to fight like we did against Atlético.”
While the support from the fans will be important for BvB, PSG presents itself as an entirely different challenge to Atlético. Having recently been crowned French champions, Maatsen spoke about the task at hand:
“Of course it will be a big challenge. But the ball is round; anything can happen. We go into the game full of self-confidence; we have to show ourselves from the start and not doubt ourselves. Then we will offer a strong performance.”
Interestingly, Dortmund have already faced PSG twice this season during the group stages of the Champions League, even earning a 1-1 draw at the Westfalenstadion. However, a convincing defeat in the French capital may eat into the confidence of those in black and yellow, with the feeling that a positive first leg is a necessity.
As well as this, after a rather forgetful performance away to RB Leipzig on the weekend, there is now pressure and expectation for Dortmund to bounce back against PSG. Nonetheless, Dortmund have often saved their moments of magic for the Champions League this season, and with the final now just 180 minutes away, Maatsen explained whether BvB could make it to London:
“That’s hard to predict. The whole city would probably turn black and yellow. I don’t know if we will make it to the final. But what I do know is that we are ready for it. We all have this dream, and we want to make it come true.”
Overcoming PSG will undoubtedly be a difficult task for Edin Terzić’s side. However, Dortmund have surprised the most this season when their backs are up against the wall, and perhaps the challenge of the French champions is just what BvB needs.
GGFN | Will Shopland
