Borussia Dortmund managed to beat PSG (Paris Saint Germain) in the semi-final second leg, Wednesday. Playing at Parc Des Princes. Die Borussiens beat Les Parisiens with a narrow score of 1-0. The only goal in the match was scored by Dortmund defender Mats Hummels. The player with number 15 scored a goal against PSG in the 50th minute.
With this victory, Dortmund won 2-0 on aggregate over PSG. Because in the semi-final, the first leg was at home, Dortmund won with an identical score of 1-0. Dortmund, thus advanced quite convincingly to the final of the UEFA Champions League. In the final, Dortmund will challenge the winner of the other semifinal match, namely between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
The second leg of the semi-final match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will only take place early Thursday. The match will be held at the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid’s home ground. In the semi-final first leg which was held at the Allianz Arena, the two teams drew 2-2.
Considering the host factor, Madrid may be slightly more favored than Munich. However, it is not a guarantee that Madrid will be able to beat Munich. It could be that Munich is the visiting team that will beat hosts Madrid.
If only Munich could beat Madrid, it would mean there would be an “all Germany final”. Dortmund and Munich will face each other in the 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League final.
If that happened, it would certainly be something unique and interesting. Why is it called unique and interesting? Because that means it is a repeat of the Champions League final 11 years ago between the same teams and in the same place. Yes, at that time in the 2012-2013 UEFA Champions League final, Dortmund and Munich faced each other. The final match was held at Wembley Stadium, London, England.
At that time, Munich managed to beat Dortmund with a score of 2-1. Munich’s two goals were scored respectively by Mario Mandzukic (60th minute) and Arjen Robben (89th minute). Meanwhile, Dortmund’s only goal was scored by Ilkay Gundogan (68th minute, penalty).
However, it would be no less interesting if Madrid managed to beat Munich in the semi-final second leg and advance to the final against Dortmund. This means that the team nicknamed Los Blancos will face a team from Germany in the Champions League/Champions Cup final for the third time.
Madrid faced a team from Germany for the first time in the 1959-1960 Champions Cup final. At that time Madrid faced Eintracht Frankfurt. In the final match which was held at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland (18 May 1960), Madrid managed to beat Frankfurt with a striking score of 7-3.
Madrid’s seven goals were scored by their two bombers, namely Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas. Di Stefano scored goals in the 27th minute, 30th minute and 73rd minute. Meanwhile, Puskas scored goals in the 46th minute, 56th minute (P), 60th minute and 71st minute.
Meanwhile, Frankfurt’s three goals were scored by Richard Kreb and Erwin Stein. Kreb scored a goal in the 18th minute. Meanwhile, Stein scored goals in the 72nd minute and 75th minute.
Then Madrid faced a team from Germany for the second time in the 2001-2002 UEFA Champions League final. At that time Madrid faced Bayer Leverkusen. Uniquely, the final match was held at the same stadium when Madrid faced Frankfurt, namely Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland.
At that time Madrid successfully beat Leverkusen. In the final which was held on May 15 2002, Madrid beat Leverkusen with a score of 2-1. Madrid’s two goals at that time were scored by their striker Raul Gonzales Blanco and midfielder Zinedine Zidane. Raul scored Madrid’s first goal in the 8th minute. Meanwhile, Zidane scored Madrid’s second goal in the 45th minute.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen’s only goal in return was scored by Lucimar da Silva Ferreira alias Lucio. The star player from Brazil scored a goal in the 14th minute. Whoever, Munich or Madrid will face Dortmund in the 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League final is just as interesting and just as unique. The two teams have qualities that are not much different.
ASL