PSG and Borussia Dortmund set to dispute place in Champions League quarter final

Borussia Dortmund travel to Le Parc des Princes to face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-1 aggregate lead, in a match that will be played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus.

The hosts have won all three of their matches since the first leg defeat, scoring an impressive 15 goals in the process. They then had their last scheduled league match away at Strasbourg postponed at the weekend, again, due to fears of the spread of coronavirus.

The German side also go into the match full of confidence having won their last four league matches which has moved them into second in the Bundesliga. If they manage to hold on to their advantage, they will progress to the quarter finals of the Champions League for the first time in three years.

Team News

PSG are sweating on the fitness of their captain Thiago Silva who has a hamstring injury and Kylian Mbappe who has been suffering from illness since the start of the week. Meanwhile, Thomas Meunier and Marco Verratti are suspended. 

The visitors are definitely without injured duo Marco Reus and Thomas Delaney but have no suspension issues.

Home manager (Thomas Tuchel)

“The fact that we couldn’t play in Strasbourg was bad news. We flew to Strasbourg and we couldn’t play for our last test before Borussia Dortmund. But now it’s another strange situation because we’re playing without our spectators. In a match of this importance, they are very important to create a special atmosphere, tension, pressure on our opponent. At the same time, it’s a football match and we’re capable of adapting, I’m confident.

“A 1-0 win is enough for us to go through, but I have the impression that we’re not a team that just wins 1-0. We like to attack and score as many goals as possible. But if at the final whistle, we win 1-0, I will be the happiest person and not have any regrets. We will try to do more.

“Borussia Dortmund are a very dangerous side with a lot of speed on the counterattack and in transition. We need to play very intelligently.”

Away manager (Lucien Favre)

“We want and need to produce a big performance here if we want to qualify. We’ll need to have a very good game and to play with intelligence and patience. We’ll have to perform very well defensively and we’ll need to go forward too – so we need to play, in inverted commas, an entirely normal game.

“We want to try to destabilise our opponent. We can’t simply limit ourselves to defending. Of course, a game without fans is completely different. There is specifically a difference in how the guys prepare for the game. But it applies to both sides, as well.”

Head-to-Head

PSG have never beaten Dortmund, as prior to this season, the only other two meetings between the two sides ended in draws. They will need to break this record if they are to secure a Champions League quarter final berth.