“Words are not enough to describe the wall. Me, the first time, I was amazed for ten minutes as the atmosphere was breathtaking. Thomas Tuchel did not lie. Or even exaggerated. Put in full view, full ears, shake the stands, the opponent and remind everyone, that here, we feel like nowhere else, such is the ambition of Signal Iduna Park. This Tuesday evening, the mythical lair of Dortmund, the one for which many French people like Nicolas, Julien and their friends swallowed five and a half hours on the road in order to "look the legend in the eyes", did not fail in its reputation.
The deafening din and the gigantic gold letters - BVB DORTMUND - deployed on three stands before kick-off set the tone for this evening like no other. The 16,000 seats, installed in the heart of the gelbe wand (yellow wall) because imposed by UEFA standards, are already no longer useful. As in the Bundesliga, when there are 8,500 more, everyone is on their feet. The arms above the heads to weave a carpet of “schwartz und gelb” scarves and the high head to better resonate this “You'll never walk alone” sung with one voice at the entrance of the teams on the lawn. "You will see," warned Franck, a Frenchman living in the region since his marriage to Anna, "it is striking. Each time, I get chills. "
In adoration before Mbappé and Haaland
The walls usually divide. This one has other virtues, magical, unifying, it even arouses admiration. With the help of a German comrade, Philippe is very happy to have managed to climb to the last row and have immortalized the scene with a selfie. "It's impressive," laughs the Seine-et-Marnais showing his picture. "It makes a lot of noise, but people are cool," smiles Antoine, ensuring that his PSG jersey earned him no malicious glance. In the stands, the German supporters are even in adoration in front of Mbappé, although they have not forgotten anything of his double registered here with Monaco in 2017.
This is less the case with Neymar, whose approximate control triggers cries of joy. The atmosphere rises with the strike of Sancho repulsed by Navas (28th), the public howls his disapproval when Witsel receives a warning for a charge on Di Maria (44th). But we are far from the tumult that triggers the first goal of Haaland, whooping cough of all the yellow people (69th), before his double does outright shake the stadium (76th). Supported by a Parisian parking lot that has never ceased to cheer up and be heard, Neymar's goal will therefore have silenced the stadium for only a few seconds. Nothing to crack the wall.