Kickoff chronicles

Paris Saint Germain vs Borussia Dortmund Leg 2

1st Half (Aggregate score 0-1)

The Parisians dominated the early minutes of the first half with star men Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele both in on the action but neither able to beat Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel. After soaking up all of the hosts’ pressure, the German side almost went ahead on the night when Karim Adeyemi hit Paris on the counter with his blistering pace. He held off the challenge from Warren Zaire Emery and cracked a shot. Gianluigi Donnarumma matched Adeyemi’s effort and his strong outstretched palm halted the German striker’s shot from finding the back of the net. The half ended goalless with PSG needing a big reaction in the 2nd half if they were to have any chance of advancing to the final in Wembley.

2nd Half (Aggregate score 0-1)

After defending for the majority of the first period, the German side turned their attention to the Parisians goal. They found the opener of the night, and second in the tie, when Mats Hummels scored. It all came from a Julian Brandt corner which he floated over to the back post. The big German centre back was unmarked and headed in his 4th over all competitions this season. Dortmund were then tasked with keeping the French club out with substitutions coming on to inspire PSG. In the 60th minute, full back Nuno Mendes hit the post after his long range effort just fizzed away from the bottom corner. Dortmund and Hummels then put the ball in the back of the net for the second time on the night after he poked the ball in from a corner that was not cleared properly. Unfortunately for the German side, the assistant referee’s flag was raised straight away and the game was kept at 0-1. After just being denied by Kobel minutes earlier. Mbappe had another huge chance tipped onto the bar by the Swiss keeper from his volleyed effort. The hosts were then denied by the upright again when Vitinha’s thunderbolt from 30 yards out hit the underside of the bar with Kobel left watching. The travelling side held on and the game finished 0-1, on aggregate 0-2. They ran off in celebration to the away end, hoping to redeem themselves from 12 years ago when they lost to Bayern Munich at Wembley. PSG were very unlucky over the 2 legs, unable to convert in either fixture as they hit the woodwork a combined total of 6 times. Dortmund will play either the winner of Real Madrid or Bayern Munich on June the 1st at Wembley. Those two teams are tied at 1-1 and will play at the Bernabeu tomorrow night

Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich Leg 2

1st Half (Aggregate score 2-2)

It was just 8 days prior that these two colossal European clubs went at it last and they were ready to do it all over again tonight in Madrid. The Galacticos almost made the perfect start to the tie when Vinicius Junior’s effort hit the post and came back out to Rodrygo who had his effort saved brilliantly by Manuel Neuer. The first half was dominated by the Spanish giants and they came so close to opening the scoring again when a cross into the box from Vini Jr was actually on target, forcing another acrobatic save from German shot stopper, Manuel Neuer. Although the hosts were creating more opportunities, Bayern came so very close when Serge Gnabry received the ball inside the Madrid penalty area. He maybe should have taken it on himself but he opted for the pass, rolling the ball across the 6 yard box in search of main man Harry Kane. Unfortunately, he put too much on it and it fizzed out for a goal kick. The half ended 0-0 with all to play for in the second period.

2nd Half (Aggregate score 2-2)

The 6 time winner of the competition, Bayern, came so close to opening the game 7 minutes into the second 45. Kane punched on a poor back pass from Dani Caravjal and held off the challenge from Ferland Mendy. He then turned his attention to goal, drilling his effort to the far corner but Andre Lunin, always favourite to get there, as he parried it away out of the danger zone. Neuer then made another spectacular save down the other end as he jumped to keep out Rodrygo’s free kick effort from soaring into the top left corner. Minutes later, the German keeper was forced into action again, palming away Vini Jr’s powerful shot after he cut in from the left wing. It was then Bayern’s turn to attack, this time through 1st half substitution Alphonso Davies after Kane played an intelligent switch ball over to him down the left wing. The Canadian, who had just been involved in Jamal Musiala’s saved effort previously, took it by himself this time, dribbling against Madrid defender, Antonio Rudiger. He cut inside and curled the ball into the far corner perfectly with his weak foot, running away in celebration after putting the German Giants ahead with just 20 minutes to play. Madrid then thought they had equalised straight away when the ball pinballed around from a corner and went in off the goal scorer Davies. Unfortunately for the home crowd, it was chalked off as Caravjal pushed Joshaua Kimmich in the throat when the ball came in. It all looked set up for a rematch of the 2013 UCL final where the two German clubs, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich fought off, in the exact same venue as well (Wembley, London). Galacticos manager, Carlo Ancelotti then made some crucial substitutions, bringing off Toni Kroos and Rodrygo, and replacing them with Joselu and Luka Modric. Jude Bellingham passed it to Vini Jr who cracked a shot from about 25 yards out. It looked comfortable for the so far infallible Neuer but the keeper made a horrible mistake, letting the ball bounce off his chest. It fell right into the path of Joselu who smashed in the scraps with just 2 minutes of normal time to play. Then in the 90th minute, Real Madrid completed the inevitable. The ball popped out to Rudiger in the 18 yard area who had multiple players to pick out in a congested Bayern penalty area. He spotted Joselu and played a strong pass over to him where the Spainyard tapped it in. At first the assistant referee raised his flag but after a quick VAR check, referee Szymon Marciniak allowed the Madrid players and fans to celebrate. It had been a tactical failure from German manager, Thomas Tuchel, as the man in charge decided to take off Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, and Leroy Sane meaning the travelling side had no pace or attacking intent in the final 3rd. Bayern thought they had equalised, sending the game into extra time in the last minutes of play when Matthijs de Ligt scored a wonderful volley from outside the area from Thomas Muller’s header. There was more controversy and drama to follow though as the whistle was blown for offside before de Ligt took his shot. The Bayern players contested it as the officials decided not to review it with VAR, holding strong on their choice and it resulted in a free kick for the Galacticos. Real Madrid held out and won the game, completing another out of this world comeback, reminiscent of the game two years ago against Manchester City where in the semi finals 2nd half sub, Rodrygo came on to score a brace. It took the game to extra time where they ended up winning the game and the whole competition. The stage is now set for Wembley on June 1st where Borussia Dortmund take on Real Madrid. Bayern end their season trophyless but will come away from the came furious that VAR did not review what they thought was their second goal. It all ended 2-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate with the Champions League yet again not failing to entertain.

Written By Ollie Wade