With a 1-0 win in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund is in a good position for the second leg. Above all, the highly gifted Karim Adeyemi shone with hidden qualities.
In Dortmund, the sixth minute of the game was underway when, for the first time, frenetic cheers raged through the concrete bowl filled with more than 80,000 spectators. The home Borussia didn’t take the lead in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against the favored star ensemble from Paris Saint-Germain, it was another sequence that got the crowds in the stands going: winger Karim Adeyemi roared at rocket-like speed to overrun his opponent Achraf Hakimi, steal the ball from him and initiate a counterattack.
It was an outcry that could have been heard far along the B1 and into the Kreuzviertel. A beacon that meant that today nothing would be given away, today the heart and soul would be left on the pitch here in the district. Adeyemi had several of these rousing appearances over the course of the game, setting the style for a team that didn’t play particularly beautifully or even artistically valuable, but presented itself as so defensive and strong-willed that the opponents, who were equipped with a sinfully expensive squad, were far beyond their control stretches despaired of the stubborn resistance.
Of all people, Adeyemi, who had previously never stood out as a defensive monster in Dortmund, became a labor hero on Labor Day. In the end, Dortmund left the pitch as winners because they wanted more and gave more than their opponents.
When Adeyemi was allowed to end his shift ten minutes before the end of the game, completely exhausted, benevolent applause accompanied him into the catacombs. In the Ruhr area, people who work hard or, as they say here, toil, have always been met with increased appreciation.
Borussia Dortmund defeats Paris Saint-Germain
However, during his time in Dortmund, the 22-year-old had not yet stood out as a professional whose work ethic would have been great to praise. The opposite was the case, far too often the highly gifted person had hidden his abundant talent, far too rarely had he kept the promise of being a difference player. Most recently, Adeyemi caused heads to shake in Mönchengladbach when he received a completely unnecessary sending off; a few days ago he hid himself beyond recognition during the guest appearance in Leipzig.
The reputation of a sloppy genius with an insufficiently professional attitude spread to Julian Nagelsmann, who recently no longer nominated Adeyemi for the national team. Maybe the national coach will change his mind given the impressions of the game against Paris and call Adeyemi into the squad for the home European Championships.
BVB coach Edin Terzic would like to see the winger as determined more often than he was against Paris: “Today we saw that there is hardly a player on the planet who can run faster. If Karim plays like that, he can be a very important one for us become a factor.”
However, Terzic did not want to give special praise. Instead, he emphasized that “many players have earned their hard work card”. In fact, there were numerous indications that will and passion won the upper hand over creativity and playfulness that evening. For example, how Dortmund’s striker Niclas Füllkrug took up Nico Schlotterbeck’s template in the 36th minute and uncompromisingly drove the ball into the net with his left arm to score the goal of the evening.
Karim Adeymi impressed in the Champions League first leg against PSG
Scenes like this are often described in footballer’s jargon with mentality, and the Dortmund team brought plenty of this virtue to bear on this warm evening under the floodlights. “We played a top game,” praised the strong defense chief Mats Hummels, who saw a “very mature, very mature game from us”: “Everyone helped each other.” Terzic saw it similarly, he spoke of a “very good team performance” and a “deserved victory”.
The best indication of Borussia’s impeccable effort was the mileage. At the end of 90 intense minutes, Dortmund had covered ten kilometers more than their opponents. Not a big deal for Terzic, “we’re talking about the basics and the willingness to invest everything. That’s the only way you can earn your way to the final at Wembley.”
That is certainly true, but it is also true that Dortmund had to overcome tricky situations in the second half. For example in the 52nd minute, when Kilian Mbappé and shortly afterwards Hakimi hit the post. However, Dortmund also missed top-class opportunities to make the result more clear. “In two or three scenes,” says Hummels, “we were lucky.”
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In comparable situations, popular wisdom speaks of the luck of the brave, and this quip has rarely been more fitting than for the Dortmunders who defend themselves as bravely and passionately. Before the first semi-final, Terzic had spoken of the task of “having to complete at least 180 minutes at the highest level in order to make our big dream come true.” It’s about “creating two close games” with “the clear mission of gaining a small lead in the home game that will improve our position when we go to Paris next week.”
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After the first 90 minutes, the coach spoke: “We succeeded – but nothing more.” That’s not quite right. With the win against Paris, Dortmund not only set their sights on the final on June 1st in London, but also earned their right to participate in the Champions League again ahead of schedule.
Fifth place in the league, which can no longer be taken away from BVB, is sufficient because of the reform in the premier class. Hummels stated with satisfaction that “we can cover up our lousy Bundesliga season with a very good Champions League season.” That’s true, because while the new German champions from Leverkusen escaped with a whopping 24 points and can only be seen with binoculars, BVB have proven on the international stage that they can compete with the best.
Dortmund can now fully concentrate on the second leg, which is extremely important for them. “Next Tuesday, that will be a tough one,” says Hummels: “But if you want to get to the final in the Champions League, you have to survive in Paris.” With a similarly passionate attitude as in our own stadium, this could actually succeed. “It’s halftime,” says goalscorer Füllkrug: “We remain humble.” And with Karim Adeyemi in hard-working mode, uncompromising in every sprint, the chances of preventing Mbappé and Co. from scoring goals on the Seine increase.