When the Champions League group stages were drawn, few would have expected Borussia Dortmund to be leading their group heading into the final game. After a rocky start to their campaign, it seemed unlikely that they would make it past the group stages. But here we are, with Dortmund securing a spot in the knockout stages and just needing to avoid a loss against PSG to claim the top spot.
The match didn't begin on a high note, with Dortmund conceding an early penalty. However, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel saved Olivier Giroud's lackluster effort. Moments later, Marco Reus converted a penalty to give Dortmund the lead, but Samuel Chukwueze equalized just before halftime. It was in the second half that Dortmund started to establish their dominance. A beautiful team effort led to Jamie Bynoe-Gittens putting Dortmund in the lead, and Karim Adeyemi sealed the victory with a third goal, giving them some breathing room.
The game was closely contested, and it's hard to argue that Dortmund outperformed Milan. However, Dortmund capitalized on their chances, and ultimately, that's what mattered the most!
Starting XI
Gregor Kobel
Paul: 7 Giroud made it easy for him, but credit to Kobel for saving the penalty!
Yash: 7.5
Ramy Bensebaini
Paul: 6 Had a decent game, but struggled defensively on a few occasions.
Yash: 6
Nico Schlotterbeck
Paul: 6 Had a couple of rough moments, but they weren't entirely his fault. Unfortunate positioning.
Yash: 6.5
Mats Hummels
Photo by Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Paul: 9 A near-perfect performance from Hummels. He was impeccable.
Yash: 9.5 Terzic referred to Mats as a "football god," and I couldn't agree more. Timeless.
Julian Ryerson
Paul: 5
Yash: 6
Emre Can
Paul: 7
Yash: 7 Cleverly collected a yellow card, ensuring his availability for the round of 16.
Marcel Sabitzer
Paul: 6
Yash: 7 Kept the game flowing well with good work in and out of possession.
Marco Reus
Paul: 7
Yash: 8 Reus ran the show from start to finish, proving his worth in the number 10 role.
Donyell Malen
Paul: 5 Didn't do much wrong but struggled to make an impact.
Yash: 3 Offered nothing in the game. One to forget for Donny.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
Photo by Loris Roselli/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Paul: 8 Bynoe-Gittens continues to impress with limited playing time. He was incisive and effective, proving his critics wrong.
Yash: 7.5 JBG may lack game intelligence, but his confidence and pace make him a genuine difference-maker. He had a threatening performance and contributed to the team's success.
Niclas Füllkrug
Paul: 7 Had a few chances that could have been better, but linked up well with the team going forward.
Yash: 7 While he should have scored, Füllkrug offered a lot defensively and provided a strong presence in the press.
Substitutes
Salih Özcan
Paul: 6
Yash: 6
Karim Adeyemi
Paul: 7
Yash: 6.5 Fortunate with the goal, but showed glimpses of his aggressive and tenacious play. Let's hope he builds on this performance.
Marius Wolf
Paul: 5
Yash: 5
Julian Brandt
N/A
Overall
Paul: 7 The final scoreline may flatter Dortmund a bit. It was an evenly contested game, and the difference came down to Dortmund capitalizing on their chances. Credit is due for scoring goals and defending the lead. Winning 3-1 at the San Siro is impressive, and there were standout performances on both ends of the field.
Yash: 6.5 This was an interesting game. Milan started stronger, and it could have been a different story if Giroud hadn't missed the penalty. However, Dortmund made their chances count and secured a convincing win despite losing the expected goals battle. Experienced players like Hummels and Reus stepped up, while Bynoe-Gittens and Karim added a much-needed spark in attack. The win keeps Dortmund's mystifying run alive, sitting at the top of the Champions League group and fourth in the Bundesliga.
Now, let's go win the group!
