Borussia Dortmund secured their place in the 2023/24 Champions League final with a 1-0 victory away at Paris Saint-Germain, completing a 2-0 aggregate triumph.
A header from veteran defender Mats Hummels early in the second half propelled the German side into a commanding position, which they maintained until the final whistle, ruling out the much-anticipated showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid in the final.
Instead, BVB will vie for their second Champions League title—having previously won in 1996/97—when they face either Madrid or Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich on June 1st. This final marks Dortmund’s return to the pinnacle stage since their defeat in the 2012/13 final at Wembley Stadium, coincidentally the venue for this season’s climax.
Despite being drawn into one of the toughest groups, Dortmund emerged ahead of PSG, AC Milan, and Newcastle, setting up a last-16 encounter with PSV Eindhoven, which they navigated with a 3-1 aggregate win. They then staged a remarkable comeback in the quarter-finals, triumphing 5-3 over Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
Niclas Fullkrug’s goal secured victory for Dortmund in the first leg against PSG, and Hummels’ decisive header in the return leg at Parc des Princes sealed their passage to the final, with Luis Enrique’s side unable to overturn the deficit.
Edin Terzic’s squad, currently positioned fifth in the Bundesliga, now awaits the outcome of the second leg between Madrid and Bayern, with their semi-final finely balanced at 2-2 following an enthralling draw at the Allianz Arena.
