Celebrated like a goalscorer, celebrated like a match winner – at the end of a fantastic evening of football, Niklas Süle enjoyed the spotlight after a long time as a noble reservist.
Although the Dortmund international didn’t contribute a goal to the 1-1 (0-0) draw in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, he thrilled the spectators with a sensational save. Again and again, his defensive action, which “Bild” even hailed as “God’s move,” was marveled at by TV experts during replays.
Süle himself also seemed very impressed: “With some reflex I can get my foot up. Of course that looks spectacular.” After viewing the DAZN pictures, he added with a smile: “You can all take a look at my crotch.”
Early PSG lead prevented
When Kylian Mbappé only had to push the ball into the empty goal from a tight angle in the 18th minute at the Festival of Opportunities, the superstar experienced a nasty surprise. With an iconic monster slide just in front of the goal line, in which he artistically lifted his leg, Süle directed the ball out of bounds and thus prevented his team from falling behind 0-1 early on. The French attacker’s puzzled look revealed more than words.
“Niklas was outstanding in the situation. These are the moments that the team needs to stay in the game and to give itself self-confidence and strength,” enthused sports director Sebastian Kehl, full of joy about the victory in the hammer group F before the title-winning team. The star ensemble from Paris was considered one of the favorites. Coach Edin Terzic commented similarly euphorically on the rescue act of the 28-year-old, who recently often had to give up his hoped-for regular place in BVB’s central defense to Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck: “A world-class tackle. That feels like a goal for us.”
High entertainment value
It wasn’t just Süle who contributed to the high entertainment value of the game. Unlike in the Bundesliga, BVB played like Borussia Dortmund in the premier class – with a lot of courage, force and risk. To the delight of the spectators, tactics and passion matched the DNA of the team this time. Goalscorer Karim Adeyemi (51st) also turned up the heat: rarely did the fast but often fickle attacker contest so many duels and sprint as much as he did on Wednesday.
Terzic made no secret of his pride: “The fact that we made it to first place in this group is an outstanding success for us. That gives us self-confidence – and hunger for more.” As first in the table, Dortmund can hope for an easier opponent in the draw on Monday and can play the second leg at home. Possible opponents are the group times FC Copenhagen, PSV Eindhoven, SSC Napoli, Inter Milan, Lazio Rome and FC Porto.
Kehl and Terzic visibly relieved
Like Terzic, sports director Kehl also seemed visibly relieved after the criticism of the past few weeks. “Hopefully this will give us some peace of mind.” However, a lot will depend on whether things will improve again in the Bundesliga after only one win in six games and falling to sixth place.
“We now have to show our performance every three days, regardless of the competition and the day of the week,” demanded Terzic, with a view to the two games in Augsburg and against Mainz before the winter break. The coach considered the question of a dream opponent for BVB in the round of 16 of the premier class to be secondary: “Our dream opponent is FC Augsburg on Saturday.”
