PSG vs Borussia Dortmund: Betting Odds & Prediction
(Featured image: Alamy Images)
PSG will host Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final as the away side take a slender 1-0 lead to Paris.
The Germans lead thanks to Niclas Füllkrug’s first-half strike at the Signal Iduna Park last week. A place in the final against at Wembley awaits the winner of this tie against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
The game will kick off on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. UK time.
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PSG
PSG come into this tie with a lot of pressure. They have been aiming for European glory for the last decade but have always fallen short. PSG struggled in the first leg of this as Dortmund matched the Parisians well. The French outfit still managed to create chances though, with 14 shots taken and an xG (expected goals) of 1.70.
As expected at this time of year, PSG have already been crowned champions in France with three games to spare, with only one defeat in the league. They have however been shaky in Europe this season, finishing second in their group, only beating third placed AC Milan on goal difference. PSG concede 1.16 goals per game in Europe and only have the 16th best xGA (expected goals against) in the competition.
PSG are always a threat and going forward though, and boast the sixth best xG in the UCL with 1.85. Star forward Kylian Mbappe has 26 goals in the league and eight goals in 11 Champions League appearances. He is clearly the main danger man for PSG, but failed to deliver any real quality in the first leg.
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Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund matched favourites PSG very well in the first leg, but now they will have to replicate that same performance away from home. In their last game against these opponents, Dortmund were able to match the French side, coming away with an xG of 1.78 compared to PSG’s 1.70.
Dortmund finished top of the same group as PSG, finishing three points ahead of them. They drew the home game 1-1 but failed to beat the Parisians in the reverse, eventually losing 2-0 in the French capital. Dortmund have a decent attacking output of 1.46 goals per game in Europe this term, but its their defence which has been particularly impressive, conceding just 0.82 goals per game.
Niclas Füllkrug’s goal was enough to see off PSG in the first leg, and the German striker has been Dortmund’s main man in the Champions League, with three goals and three assists. Donyell Malen has also been a threat going forward, bagging 12 goals this season.
English winger Jadon Sancho may be worth keeping an eye as he broke records against PSG in the first leg. He completed 12 dribbles across the match, the most of anyone in a Champions League semi-final since Lionel Messi against Manchester United in 2008.
Prediction
Dortmund raised eyebrows with their first leg performance last week, and have performed admirably in both attacking and defensive columns this season. While PSG possess the better individual quality of the two sides, the French outfit have struggled to assert themselves in this competition.
Given Dortmund's momentum from the first leg, OddsNow back the away side to qualify for a first Champions League final in eleven years.