Baptiste Desprez and Christophe Remise, special envoys to Dortmund
When they returned to the locker room on Tuesday evening, and while the Dortmund players were communicating with the bubbling "Yellow Wall", all Parisians were keen to do the same with their supporters, placed in the opposite turn of Signal Iduna Park. No communion, even fewer smiles, but a real desire to thank the more than 3000 fan fans who made the trip. And make an appointment for the future. In three weeks at the Parc des Princes (March 11), PSG will have no other choice than to reverse an unfavorable but not insurmountable situation. Zoom on these reasons which leave hope to Parisians.
Neymar scored the goal of hope
The clock showed the 75th minute of play and being at the reception of the offering of Kylian Mbappé, who had just eliminated Zagadou on the right side, Neymar offered a little respite to his partners (1-1) Tuesday evening. Even if the buffalo Erling Haaland doubled the bet a hundred and twenty seconds later (2-1). This goal is worth gold and everyone is aware of it. Parisians first, who can fold the case on March 11 with a victory over the smallest of margins. The Germans then, all annoyed by this conceded goal. "This goal gives us hope," attests Thomas Tuchel, who will have no other choice than to ask his team to attack head-on in the return match. In this case, the statistics are relentless. 49.3% of teams in the same situation managed to reverse the trend in the Champions League. Half the chance for Paris. Everything but insurmountable with so many living forces in its ranks.
Executives must rebuild their health
Not necessarily insurmountable if in content, PSG reveals another consistency. Starting with a physical state of a much higher level. Tuesday evening, Thomas Tuchel changed his tactical plans in particular due to the lack of rhythm of some of his executives. The first in mind, Neymar, left in the fridge against his will since last February 1. Thiago Silva, very far from his optimal level of form and heckled by Haaland. Others are added to the list such as Presnel Kimpembe, Marquinhos or Juan Bernat. Only potential incumbents. It is up to the medical staff and the German technician to take advantage of the next three weeks to restore health to all these elements. Against Dortmund at the Parc des Princes, the deal will be "simple". Put a real intensity in the duels, increase the pace of play and suffocate for 90 minutes the Borussia of Lucien Favre. Basic ingredients that were sorely lacking in the champions of France on Tuesday evening. The fault of a deficient physique. But not only. "Sacrifice yourself for your partner, run more kilometers than your opponent, that's what the Champions League is all about," Luis Fernandez told us before the first leg. The qualif 'will pass by there.
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The Parc des Princes as a 12th man
Tuesday, the Westfalenstadion and its famous yellow wall perfectly ensured the role of the 12th man against the PSG, pushing their proteges throughout the meeting after intoning the mythical "You'll never walk alone". March 11, change of scenery. Make way for “O City of Light”. Also very noisy in their parking lot on Tuesday, in a corner of the stadium, the Parisian supporters - they were 3300 at Signal Iduna Park, a thousand Ultras - will find their garden, and all of their strength. Enough to imagine a din of great evenings from the Auteuil turn and the Collective Ultras Paris in particular. “I am convinced that we will have a good match at home, in front of our supporters, predicts Thiago Silva. I hope the atmosphere will be magnificent. ” Remember that PSG has dropped a number of top names in its lair in recent years, from Barcelona (twice) to Liverpool, via Chelsea or Bayern Munich. And now Dortmund?
Borussia is not the same far from its basics
Dortmund stronger at home than on the go? A truism. The BVB is obviously not the only club in this case. This is perhaps even more true for this team, still undefeated at home in all competitions, but which has already lost seven times away from the Ruhr in 2019-20, including two in the group stage of C1. In Inter (2-0) and in Barcelona (3-1). Disappointing in the results, but also the way. "They are much weaker on the move, they do not have the same face at all, analysis, on the air of RMC , the German football specialist Polo Breitner. I don't see Dortmund making the same match twice. They are an extremely average team, quite catastrophic away this season. ” In fact, said Breitner sees "PSG will qualify quite easily". "We may have slightly underestimated Borussia at home, and I insist, at home," he adds. And the problem is that we are now likely to overestimate this away team. ” Or not… It remains to be seen which PSG will appear on its lawn. A breast and dominating PSG, or the one we saw Tuesday evening in Germany?
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