Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho recalled his star qualities as Borussia Dortmund beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
Niclas Fullkrug scored the winner after 36 minutes, picking up a pass from Nico Schlotterbeck before firing a low shot past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Fullkrug has now been involved in six Champions League goals this season (three goals, three assists), the most of which were scored by a German player in his debut season in the competition, together with his BVB teammate Marco Reus in the 2012/13 season (four goals). , two assists).
However, the star of the show was undoubtedly Sancho.
He tormented Nuno Mendes during a lively performance and created three chances for his teammates – a game-best tally alongside Julian Brandt, Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi.
Sancho had completed seven dribbles by halftime, more than he managed in any full game for the Red Devils.
By the end of the season that number had risen to 12, the highest number by any player in a Champions League semi-final since Lionel Messi made 16 for Barcelona against United in April 2008, and the highest number ever recorded by an Englishman the competition (since 2003-04).
12 – Jadon Sancho completed 12 dribbles in today’s game, the most by an English player in a UEFA Champions League game recorded by Opta (from 2003-04). Rejuvenated. https://t.co/sLQhrLkcGO
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 1, 2024
Sancho even outdid Mbappe, who hit the far post with a curling effort early in the second half, but was limited to just three shots, for a total of 0.17 expected goals (xG).
PSG did have their chances, however, as they took a total of 14 shots, the most without scoring in a Champions League game since the 2020/21 semi-final second leg against Manchester City (also 14), when they were beaten 2-0 and eliminated from the competition.
Dortmund are now unbeaten in eleven Champions League home games in a row, winning seven and drawing four.
It is their longest such winning streak at Signal Iduna Park and they have also won four consecutive knockout games on their own turf for the first time in their Champions League history.
While Dortmund has to defend a valuable lead in Paris next Tuesday, Edin Terzic expects a strong reaction from PSG.
The Ligue 1 champions progressed in two of their last four Champions League knockout ties after losing the first leg. He celebrated the first of these successes in the round of 16 of the 2019/20 season against Dortmund (1:2 away, 2:0 at home). ).
1 – This is the first time Paris have lost a game without a goal in all competitions this season. Timed coordination. pic.twitter.com/63zqImuLS2
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 1, 2024