Borussia Dortmund celebrates their first Champions League semi-final appearance in 11 years following a goal-packed second half, securing a 4-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday (5-4 on aggregate).
Overcoming a 2-1 deficit from the first leg appeared daunting for the current Borussia Dortmund squad, particularly after their lackluster performance in the initial encounter against Atletico Madrid.
Scoring against a Diego Simeone-coached team is no easy feat, as numerous stronger teams than Dortmund have attempted and failed.
While the current Los Colchoneros may not instill the same fear as Simeone’s previous squads, they continue to defy expectations in European competitions.
However, Dortmund had a clear objective on Tuesday night and started the match with determination. The breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute, courtesy of Julian Brandt, offering the hosts a glimmer of hope in the tie.
Mats Hummels, renowned for his precise passing, delivered a pinpoint long ball into the Atletico penalty area, finding Brandt in a threatening position. The German international skillfully dispatched the ball into the bottom corner from a tight angle, reigniting Dortmund’s hopes.
Brandt’s strike rattled the Atletico defense, leading to a shaky end to the first half for the visitors.
Simeone had hoped his team could reach halftime with a 1-0 scoreline, but Dortmund’s relentless attack doubled their lead, putting the aggregate score at 3-2.
On-loan defender Ian Maatsen surged forward from his left-back position, catching the Spanish defense off guard with a powerful strike across Jan Oblak’s body, nestling into the bottom corner.
It was a remarkable goal and a fitting reward for Dortmund’s proactive approach in the first half.
