First Sancho, then Reus: A lightning start paves the way for BVB to reach the CL quarter-finals

First Sancho, then Reus
A lightning start paves the way for BVB to reach the CL quarter-finals

March 13, 2024, 10:53 p.m

The early pressure is rewarded: Borussia Dortmund quickly takes the lead against PSV Eindhoven thanks to Jadon Sancho. BVB trembled for a long time before Marco Reus made the decision late with a 2-0 win. For the first time in three years, the German runner-up is in the CL quarter-finals.

Speed, will, wit and, at the end, a bit of luck – Borussia Dortmund has found its long-missing virtues on the big stage and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in three years. With the 2-0 (1-0) win over PSV Eindhoven, coach Edin Terzić’s team, which was already far behind in the Bundesliga title fight, achieved the hoped-for advance into the illustrious circle of European football nobility. In front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Signal Iduna, Sancho (3rd minute), who was signed on loan from Manchester United during the winter break, and joker Marco Reus (90th + 5th) scored the deserved victory.

Three weeks after the 1-1 draw in the first duel with the Dutch top team, BVB put in an appealing performance, especially in the first half, and followed FC Bayern as the second German team into the round of the last eight teams. The success, which was in serious danger in the second round, not only improves the sporting reputation, but also the club’s finances. Further income of at least 10.6 million euros from the European Football Union (UEFA) bonus pot is guaranteed. The appearance also gave us courage for the upcoming difficult Bundesliga program with five games against teams from the top 6.

“To be among the top eight in Europe again would be a statement for the club,” said BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl, expressing his hope for a big premier class evening. A plan that the BVB stars, who have been so changeable in recent weeks, initially pursued with a lot of commitment and enthusiasm and defended with passion in the second half.

BVB fans cheer early

The sovereign leader of the Dutch honorary division was initially exposed to constant pressure from Dortmund, which was rewarded early on. Sancho made the BVB fans cheer with a shot from 18 meters in the third minute and documented his improving form. The returnee, who no longer played in Manchester and is on loan until the end of the season, had already scored in the 2-1 win in Bremen on Saturday.

In this form, Sancho, who had to leave the field injured a quarter of an hour before the end, could become an important factor in the fight for renewed participation in the Champions League in the difficult remaining program in the Bundesliga. As did Ian Maatsen, another winter signing from the Premier League, who fired the first warning shot after 72 seconds.

With the lead behind them, BVB continued to move forward. More ball possession, more duels won and significantly more chances to score – PSV, who only conceded 13 goals in 25 games in the domestic league, could have been significantly behind early on. Especially after the double chance by Julian Brandt and Donyell Malen, when the Argentine keeper Walter Benitez prevented anything worse from happening (16th). Malen, who once played for PSV himself, missed another good opportunity (26th). Eindhoven coach Peter Bosz didn’t like that at all when he returned to his old place of work.

Fear until the last second

Apart from a shot from Johan Bakayoko (31′), the Dutch hardly had any offensive activity in the first half. This was also because the BVB defense around Mats Hummels defended consistently. The 2014 world champion, who was most recently a substitute in the league, was in the starting line-up for the eighth time in the eighth premier class game due to Nico Schlotterbeck’s suspension. The loss of Julian Ryerson required another change, which moved Niklas Süle to the right wing position in the back four.

While the BVB defense had everything under control in the first half, there was suddenly a sense of alarm at the start of the second half. PSV turned up the heat and caused some dicey scenes. Suddenly it was the Reds who let the ball and opponents run. Substitute Hirving Lozano, who once shocked reigning world champions Germany with his 1-0 winning goal for Mexico at the 2018 World Cup, was unlucky with a shot against the post (53′).

BVB keeper Gregor Kobel was increasingly in the spotlight, as was the case with Bakayoko’s shot (71′). Dortmund were unlucky that a goal from Niclas Füllkrug was disallowed due to being offside (77′). So we had to tremble until the end before Reus saved everyone.