PSG’s defeat in Dortmund on Wednesday in the Champions League semi-finals (1-0) is far from making the headlines in European sports dailies. Most, like the Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy), evokes a match “balanced and frenetic”Or “thrilling and confusing” according to The Guardian (England). The British daily ” request “ even “how their combined efforts and mistakes resulted in a single goal”, the one scored by Niclas Füllkrug in the first period.
While recalling that “no one really expected Dortmund to get this far,” Jonathan Liew, the Guardian’s special correspondent, thinks that “facing PSG again next Tuesday will be a whole different challenge.” He also mentions the successful performance of Jadon Sancho, who was missing in England in recent seasons for Manchester United. The England international (24 years old, 23 caps) returned to Dortmund on loan this winter.
For the German media, Dortmund is getting closer to London
In Germany, Kicker believes that Borussia “getting closer to London” after this success (1-0) at Signal Iduna Park. And remember that “Dortmund eyes first final appearance since 2013.” Final lost (1-2) against Bayern Munich, held to a draw on Tuesday (2-2) by Real Madrid in the other semi-final. The tabloid Bildwho prefers to highlight the potential arrival of Raul at Hamburg-SV on the front page, believes that “Borussia is closer to the final than Bayern”. A relentless logic, given that the Munich residents were held to a draw at home (2-2) against Real Madrid, while the Borussen won against PSG…
If the match did not ignite the debates in Spain, Marca, Madrid sports daily, looked at the performance of Kylian Mbappé, expected at Real Madrid from July 1, at the end of his contract with PSG. Thus, Joel Del Rio writes: “Real Madrid started to solve the Mbappé problem in time”, because “Borussia Dortmund’s defense was enough to make the world of football understand that position 9 is not the one that makes Kylian Mbappé happy.”
Spain anticipates the arrival of Mbappé
The reporter tells how the Merengue club anticipated the arrival of the PSG striker to put him in his privileged position, namely on the left side. “Vinicius had to change (…) to put himself at the service of Carlo Ancelotti.” He, who has “always enjoyed playing on the left” its “refocused with the arrival of Jude Bellingham” at the request of the Italian coach. “The 7th (Vinicius) discovered that playing inside allowed him to be closer to the goal and he adapted perfectly to his new role, one which could be the prelude to the arrival of the Bondy star (Mbappe). » Which would therefore regain its privileged positioning in the Spanish capital.
The analysis is less thorough on the side of the other Madrid sports daily, Ace. “Mbappé crashes against a wall”, title for his side José Carlos Menzel. He believes he has not seen “no trace of Mbappé” in the first period. And evokes his start: “Until he woke up after the break.” In three minutes, the star and Achraf (Hakimi, trained at Real Madrid, Editor’s note) shot twice at the post and Fabian Ruiz missed another very clear header. ” ” But, he recalls, Borussia survived. Like so many times this year.” The Germans eliminated Atlético Madrid in the previous round by scoring two goals in the last twenty minutes of their quarter-final second leg.
