Borussia Dortmund reach UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with PSV win
Jadon Sancho's early goal set Borussia Dortmund on their way to a 2-0 victory over PSV at Signal Iduna Park as they progressed to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Luuk de Jong's second-half penalty cancelled out Donyell Malen's 24th-minute opener in the first leg to leave this match evenly poised, and PSV's continued Eredivisie dominance suggested this would be a difficult task for Die Schwarzgelben. However, the hosts were quick out of the blocks and needed fewer than 180 seconds to break the deadlock and go in front both on the night and in the tie. Ian Maatsen had already seen a shot saved by Walter Benítez by the time Sancho arrowed a controlled low effort beyond the Argentinian goalkeeper and in via the post from outside the area. With a little more precision, Dortmund could have been out of sight by the half-hour mark, as Niclas Füllkrug fired wired from a promising position and Benítez produce a double-save from Julian Brandt and Malen. The latter than directed an effort beyond the post before the visitors started to enjoy more possession, albeit without really testing Gregor Kobel. The shot-stopper was required to stop attempts from Guus Til and Johan Bakayoko prior to the interval, but they were ultimately straight at him.
After the break, Malen had a deflected effort comfortably thwarted by Benítez, while De Jong forced Kobel into action and substitute Hirving Lozano struck the post with a fierce strike from distance. Around the hour mark, Füllkrug was presented with a wonderful opportunity to double his side's advantage, but his header lacked power and allowed Benítez to get down and get a hand to the attempt. With less than 15 minutes left on the clock, the Germany international appeared to have given Dortmund the breathing space they craved as he swept home substitute Marco Reus' free-kick, but he was marginally offside when doing so and the strike was therefore ruled out following a VAR intervention. As the game approached its climax, PSV pushed forward in search of an equaliser and extra-time, but it was BVB who had the final say, with Reus stroking beyond Benítez with the last kick of the game. They are now in the Champions League's final eight for the first time since the 2020/21 term, and they will find out their next opponents on Friday, 15 March.
Match stats
Sancho's strike was his first Champions League goal in 841 days.
Dortmund have lost just two of their past 20 home games in this competition.
BVB will now look to reach the semi-finals for the first time since the 2012/13 term, when they made it all the way to the showpiece before losing to Bayern Munich at Wembley.
Dortmund remain unbeaten against PSV, with this the fourth meeting between the two teams (W2, D2).
Since losing to Paris Saint-Germain in their opening group game, Dortmund are unbeaten in seven UCL games (W4, D3).
PSV are now without a win in their last 17 away matches at German clubs.
PSV: Benítez - Teze, Boscagli, Schouten, Dest - Til (Lozano 46'), Veerman (Pepi 82'), Mauro Júnior (Babadi 86') - Bakayoko, De Jong (c), Tillman Unused subs: Drommel, Waterman, Sambo, Obispo, Ramalho, Bella-Kotchap, Van Aanholt, Land, Ledezma Out: Lang (hamstring) Coach: Peter Bosz
As it happened!
2 - 0
(1 - 0)
Dortmund
FINAL
PSV
Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg Round of 16, 2nd leg Signal Iduna Park
Full-time: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 PSV
Borussia Dortmund are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League! Jadon Sancho set them on their way in the third minute and, while PSV had chances to equalise late on, substitute Marco Reus finished with composure with the last kick of the game to seal a 3-1 aggregate win.
A huge chance for Dortmund to give themselves some extra breathing space as a lovely Malen cross finds its way to Füllkrug, who is in all sorts of space. However, his header lacks the required power and is ultimately pushed away by a diving Benítez.
58'
Nmecha on
The somewhat subdued Brandt makes way for his Germany compatriot, who only returned from a lengthy injury lay-off this past weekend.
The Dortmund stopper got nowhere near that Lozano effort, but he's down quickly to beat away a Teze strike from a tight angle. Terzić looks on pensively - his side haven't got going since the restart.
53'
Post!
Hearts in mouths for Dortmund as Lozano fires goalwards from 20 yards, the Mexican's effort cannoning off the upright and behind.
49'
De Jong header
The Dutchman forces an easy save from Kobel, but credit for getting up above his man to win the ball in the first place.
48'
Denied!
Sancho and Brandt work the ball to Malen, who cuts inside well but places his shot too close to Benítez in the PSV goal.
46'
Second half!
Attacking change for PSV as Hirving Lozano replaces ex-Freiburg midfielder Guus Til. Dortmund are unchanged.
Half-time: Dortmund 1-0 PSV (BVB lead 2-1 on agg.)
Sancho's early strike is the difference at the break. BVB went on to create a number of decent openings, but mistakes crept in as the half wore on. Needless to say they could really use a two-goal cushion to settle the nerves.
Another sniff for PSV as Mauro Júnior picks out former Gladbach striker Luuk de Jong in the Dortmund six-yard area. Luckily for BVB, his back-heeled attempt is off target.
40'
Side netting!
Malen gets into the PSV area once again, but this time his shot is high and into the side netting.
34'
Warning shot
Dortmund are caught cold trying to play out from the back, but Til can't take advantage. His shot from range is meat and drink for Kobel.
31'
Kobel called on
Smart keeping from the Dortmund No.1, who dives to stop Bakayoko's deflected strike nestling into the back of the net.
27'
Wide!
Malen is agonisingly close to doubling the lead with a shot from inside the area that whistles just past the post. Great play from Sabitzer to find him in the build-up. Let's hope BVB don't come to rue these missed opportunities...
Has the dame broken for Sancho?
The Man United loanee went eight competitive games without scoring for Dortmund. Now he has goals in back-to-back matches...
Brandt releases Malen for a shot at Benítez. The PSV goalkeeper can only parry it back to the Dutchman, whose rebound is put behind for a corner. Dortmund really mean business!
13'
Füllkrug again!
This time the Dortmund striker heads Süle's cross off target. BVB's wide play is really causing problems for PSV...
11'
Chance!
Ex-PSV man Malen races away and crosses for Füllkrug, but he doesn't make a clean enough connection with his shot from 10 yards and puts it wide.
7'
Set-piece threat
Another Dortmund corner has PSV in a panic as Brandt finds Hummels, who sees his shot blocked.
3'
Dream start for Dortmund!
Dortmund go straight on the attack and win a corner as Benítez parries a Maatsen strike behind. Maatsen's delivery is cleared initially, but the home side get it back with Brandt, who feeds Sancho for a low finish into the bottom corner from 20 yards. BVB lead on the night and 2-1 on aggregate!
Only a win will do for Dortmund. Will they finish the job and reach the quarter-finals of this season's Champions League?
Kick-off!
Teams out
An electrifying atmosphere greets the players. The Champions League anthem follows. Kick-off is imminent...
Bosz back
PSV head coach Peter Bosz spent less than six months in charge of Dortmund in 2017, overseeing 24 games in all competitions. He averaged 1.25 points per game, compared to 2.44 at his current station.
3:40
Watch: Step inside Signal Iduna Park
Here's a taster of what to expect at Dortmund's world-famous abode tonight...
Tough nut to crack
Since losing to PSG in their opening group game, Dortmund are unbeaten in six UCL matches (W3, D3).
Already through...
Dortmund are bidding to join Bayern, Real, PSG, Arsenal, Barcelona and holders Man City in the quarter-finals. Atlético Madrid host Inter Milan in the other remaining last-16 second leg. The quarter-final, semi-final and final draws take place at 12 CET in Nyon, Switzerland, on 15 March.
More on those teams
Julian Ryerson misses out with a skin complaint, so Niklas Süle moves over to right-back. Mats Hummels comes in for the suspended Nico Schlotterbeck, with Emre Can dropping into defence alongside him. Salih Özcan is the BVB captain's replacement in midfield. As for PSV, Johan Bakayoko is preferred to Hirving Lozano. Jerdy Schouten moves to centre-half, with Joey Veerman returning in midfield.
PSV's 3-2 win at Sevilla in the group stage in November was their first UEFA Champions League away win in 16 trips in the competition.
Yellow Walled fortress?
Borussia Dortmund boast a quite brilliant record of eight home matches unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League - stretching back to 2021. Their last five ties in the competition have seen Manchester City, Chelsea, AC Milan, Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain all visit Dortmund and leave without a win.
Donyell Malen on PSV
"I'm expecting an exciting match. Are there favourites? Of course, we are at home."
"We all know the strengths of PSV, and they reflect Dutch football in general. They keep on producing good wingers, among others. You can see with Donny [Malen] and Ian [Maatsen] how dynamic and technically strong they are, and how they can operate in tight spaces. We are going into the match with a good feeling, and we have earned that right in the first leg."
Borussia Dortmund are fourth in the Bundesliga currently - having lost just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions. PSV meanwhile enjoy a ten-point advantage over Feyenoord at the top of the Eredivisie.
First-leg recap
Former PSV attacker Donyell Malen struck for Dortmund in the first half before Luuk de Jong's second-half penalty left the tie delicately poised at 1-1.
Two fine first-half goals from Donyell Malen and Jadon Sancho proved enough for Dortmund to seal an away win, despite coming under pressure in the second-half after Marcel Sabitzer was sent off.
Hello and welcome
Thank you for joining us ahead of Borussia Dortmund's decisive UEFA Champions League last 16 second-leg clash with PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday!
