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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Toby Cudworth

Borussia Dortmund vs PSG: Preview, How to Watch on TV and Prediction

Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain clash in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie on Wednesday night, just 24 hours after Bayern Munich and Real Madrid clashed in a pulsating game at the Allianz Arena.

Dortmund were involved the last time Wembley Stadium hosted the final of European football's most prestigious club competition, back in 2013 when they were managed by Jurgen Klopp. On that occasion, they slipped to a late 2-1 defeat to Bayern, courtesy of Arjen Robben's dramatic goal.

PSG have less Champions League pedigree, losing their only final appearance in 2020 - ironically to Bayern - but have a fantastic chance of reaching a second final against a Dortmund side who have struggled to string together results consistently during 2023/24.

That said, Edin Terzic's side have turned it on in Europe, besting PSG in a group that also contained AC Milan and Newcastle United, before beating PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid in the knockout stages.

Mats Hummels is expected to be fit for Wednesday's game after a recent knock, but Ramy Bensebaini and Sebastien Haller are ruled out with respective knee and ankle injuries.

Donyell Malen has been struggling with a thigh issue but is expected to make the matchday squad, and he'll be joined by Emre Can and Ian Maatsen, who return after Bundesliga suspensions.

PSG have a pretty clean bill of health, certainly in the respect of key players. Presnel Kimpembe, Sergio Rico, and Layvin Kurzawa are absent, but all three are unlikely to have been included in Luis Enrique's best XI.

Kylian Mbappe will start as a central striker - perhaps a glimpse into his future at likely next club Real Madrid - and he'll be supported in the wide areas by Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele, both of whom have been in good form of late.

Few would have expected Borussia Dortmund to reach the last four of the Champions League, especially as their domestic form has been inconsistent to say the least.

But after seeing off Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals, in front of a vibrant home crowd, they will fancy their chances of taking the game to PSG, who are still bidding to win their first Champions League after years and years of huge investment.

The visitors are favourites to win the tie overall and even the game in Germany, but they will be vulnerable on the counter attack. However, it's impossible to overlook the attacking talent that Enrique possesses, with Mbappe the obvious threat running in behind.

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