Borussia Dortmund is in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2021. On the way to the last eight, BVB shone for a half, but had to tremble for long stretches after the break before Marco Reus scored the redeeming second goal deep in stoppage time.
Reus came on as a substitute for the injured Jadon Sancho in the 75th minute and benefited from a faux pas by Isaac Babadi in the final minutes. The 18-year-old Dutchman was the last man to slip, Reus held his nerve in front of Walter Benitez and pushed in ice-coldly.
Shortly after his substitution, Reus had already been in the spotlight. The 34-year-old took a free kick from the right half of the field into the penalty area, where Niclas Füllkrug scored to make it 2-0. However, the striker was just offside, as the VAR told referee Daniele Orsato.
BVB cheers early and trembles for a long time
The goal would have come in handy for Dortmund. The guests from the Netherlands, who had only suffered two competitive defeats this season, had pushed hard for the equalizer and continued to do so. However, the recovered Gregor Kobel in the BVB goal held on to what he had to hold on to. The post also saved in the 53rd minute, although the Swiss would probably have been involved in this goal too.
Dortmund played a strong game, especially in the first half. In the first 20 minutes, the hosts set off a veritable fireworks display in the sold-out Signal Iduna Park. Sancho crowned this with the opening goal in the 3rd minute.
Julian Brandt set up for the returner, who passed the ball to the center and finished with a low shot into the left corner. For Sancho it was the first Champions League goal since his return to BVB.
It remains to be hoped for Dortmund that the Englishman is not seriously injured. With Reus, coach Terzic has a valid replacement at his disposal, as the Joker has impressively shown.
This is how it continues
Along with Bayern, Dortmund are one of two German clubs that made it to the last eight. Whether the two Bundesliga teams will meet in the quarter-finals will be determined on Friday at the draw in Nyon. The other possible opponents are PSG, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.