What to look out for in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
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Paris and Dortmund both have a chance to end the season on a huge high as they prepare for their UEFA Champions League semi-final opener.
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Borussia Dortmund hope recent experience will help them to get the measure of Paris Saint-Germain as host the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
Here are some key talking points ahead of the first leg.
This week's fixtures
Tuesday 30 April
Wednesday 1 May
Both kick-offs 21:00 CET
Mbappé faces Dortmund's Yellow Wall
Top scorer in this seasons Champions League with eight goals, Kylian Mbappé notched a double in the 4-1 quarter-final second-leg win at Barcelona to boost his tally of away strikes in the Champions League knockout phase to 15 (only Cristiano Ronaldo, with 23, has managed more). However, BVB are unbeaten in their last ten home games in this competition (W6 D4: a club record) and in front of their gigantic 'Yellow Wall' stand will back themselves to get a result to take to France for the return leg.
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These two teams know each other well after facing off twice in the group stage, with Dortmund losing 2-0 to Paris at the Parc des Princes before drawing 1-1 at home. "Our first game against them wasn't good," coach Edin Terzić admitted. "In the second game, we adjusted to them better and were closer to victory. I think we're a better team today than we were against them in the group stage." Third time lucky?
English hands on the trophy?
Holders Manchester City and Arsenal both bowed out in the quarter-finals, meaning that no English clubs can make it to the final at London's Wembley Stadium. However, a number of English players will still be hoping to perform under the arch on 1 June, not least England captain (and 62-goal record scorer) Harry Kane. "There would be no better place for me personally to win that trophy," said the Bayern forward, who would have something to show for a prolific first season with his new club.
In the semi-finals, he is up against an international team-mate who is also enjoying a stunning first campaign in a new country: Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham. "I'm really happy for him, but it will be another war against his team," said Kane. "Of course, I'll say hello, but once we're on the pitch, it's business." Bellingham, meanwhile, may have a few more old colleagues to say hello to should his side reach the final and take on former employers Dortmund, who feature two more English talents: forwards Jadon Sancho and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
Further ahead
- If Bayern get through, they are on for a repeat of a past final one way or another: they beat Paris 1-0 in Lisbon in the 2020 Champions League final, and got the better of Dortmund in the all-German 2013 showpiece, also at Wembley.
- Real Madrid are hoping to win the Champions League/European Cup for a 15th time this year (their current tally of 14 titles is twice as many as their nearest rivals Milan), but they lost their only previous game at Wembley: 3-1 against Tottenham Hotspur in the 2017/18 group stage.
- Paris are the only side in the semi-finals who have never won the Champions League, but they may feel more optimistic about getting a chance to scratch that itch if they have the lead when they host Dortmund in the second leg. They have yet to concede in three home games against BVB (W2 D1).
Where is the Champions League final being played?
The 2023/24 Champions League final will take place at Wembley Stadium in London on 1 June 2024.