Borussia Dortmund – Paris St-Germain 1-0: Niclas Fullkrug’s goal gives the German team the victory

Niclas Fullkrug scored a brilliant first-half winner as Borussia Dortmund beat Paris St-Germain 1-0 in a frantic first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

After a poor first half, PSG wasted several chances to equalize in the second, with Kylian Mbappé hitting the post before Achraf Hakimi hit the woodwork moments later.

Fullkrug should have scored a second after some great work down the right flank by on-loan Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho, but the striker could only fire over the bar from five yards.

In their third Champions League match of the season, Dortmund beat the Ligue 1 winners with their direct play, their aggressiveness and their tenacity.

PSG controlled much of the first half, but failed to get a shot on target as Dortmund looked for opportunities.

Marcel Sabitzer had a great chance to double Dortmund’s lead on the stroke of half-time, but his point-blank volley was superbly saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

PSG coach Luis Enrique rallied his team at half-time and Mbappé’s first big moment of the game came in the 51st minute, when the France captain hit the post with a trademark cut from the left.

Moments later the ball fell into the hands of former Dortmund right-back Hakimi and his shot, like Mbappé’s, went inside the opposition post and ran to safety.

Ousmane Dembélé, another former Dortmund player, had a glorious chance over the bar with 10 minutes remaining, while Fullkrug earned a penalty after being elbowed in the back when it looked like he was going to head in Julian Brandt’s cross.

The score of 1-0 leaves this tie very balanced for the second leg at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

Sancho shines on the big stage

England international Sancho was the best player on the pitch at Signal Iduna Park.

PSG left-back Nuno Mendes failed to deal with the quick feet of the Manchester United loanee and now has six days to find a way to deal with the 24-year-old before the second leg.

In a brilliant moment in the second half, Sancho pretended to go left before flicking the ball over Mendes’ leg and then delivering a precise cross which Fullkrug headed over the bar.

Sancho has had many doubters after a difficult spell at Old Trafford following his £73million move from Dortmund in 2021.

He was left out of United’s squad to face Arsenal in September 2023 and later He took to social media to say he “felt like a scapegoat”.

His refusal to apologize to manager Erik ten Hag led to him being sent out on loan again in January to Dortmund, the place where he made his name, in a bid to rediscover his form.

Based on this performance, that move has paid off and Sancho is back to his best.

And United fans will be left wondering what could have been.