Dortmund vs Paris Champions League semi-final first leg preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, predicted line-ups

Dortmund and Paris meet in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday 1 May.

Where to watch Dortmund vs Paris on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What do you need to know?

These two clubs lock horns again following their meetings in Group F earlier this season. Those contests may have left Dortmund with a feeling of what might have been given they were defeated 2-0 by Paris at the Parc des Princes in the first head to head before drawing 1-1 at home. BVB had already qualified before that latter encounter on Matchday 6, when they took the lead in a game in which defeat for Paris would have meant elimination given Milan's victory at Newcastle. Will the German side come to regret not knocking out the 2020 finalists?

This is Dortmund's fifth European Cup/Champions League semi-final but their first since they saw off Real Madrid in 2013 – a repeat of the final against Bayern that year could be on the cards if their fellow German side come through their last-four tie. Paris, meanwhile, are through to their fourth Champions League semi-final, having failed to reach that stage in the European Cup era.

Dortmund will be buoyed by their history at this stage too, given they have lost only one of their previous eight home matches in UEFA competition semi-finals (W5 D2). It is more of a mixed bag for Paris, though, as they have won only one of their last five matches in the Champions League semi-finals. However, they did come out on top in the only UEFA competition two-legged tie against BVB – 3-2 on aggregate in the 2019/20 Champions League round of 16.

Luis Enrique's men have been the more prolific in the knockout stage this season, racking up ten goals across impressive performances in their ties with Real Sociedad and Barcelona, but Dortmund have saved their best displays for their 'Yellow Wall', taking down PSV and Atlético de Madrid in front of their home fans to make it this far. Which team will keep their impressive streak going in this opener?

Predicted line-ups

Dortmund: Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can; Sancho, Brandt, Adeyemi; Füllkrug
Suspended: None 

Paris: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Hernández, Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz; Dembélé, Mbappé, Barcola
Suspended: None

Form guide

Dortmund
Form (all competitions, most recent first): LDWWLL
Most recent result: Leipzig 4-1 Dortmund, 27/04, German Bundesliga

Paris
Form (all competitions, most recent first): DWWWLD
Most recent result: Paris 3-3 Le Havre, 27/04, French Ligue 1

Expert predictions

Matthias Rötters, Dortmund reporter
Of all the opponents Dortmund have come up against in this season's Champions League campaign, Paris have caused the most problems. Coach Edin Terzić has been keen to emphasise that his team already know them well and have digested lessons learned from their two group stage meetings (0-2, 1-1). Nevertheless, Dortmund really do have their work cut out here, not least considering they will have to play the all-important second leg away from home.

Alex Clementson, Paris reporter
Fresh from the euphoria of their historic turnaround win in Barcelona, as well as the joy of securing their 12th Ligue 1 title, Paris can turn their attentions to this tie with renewed vigour and optimism. The omens look bright for Luis Enrique's men, and they will be buoyed by having beaten their German counterparts in the group stage. Under the Spaniard's tutelage, the Parc des Princes side have exhibited greater resilience, maturity and tactical acumen than seasons past. A growing undercurrent of calm may just propel them to a famous finale.

What the coaches say

Edin Terzić, Dortmund coach: "In the group stage, we saw a significantly different game against Paris in our stadium. It was a very open match in which we were a bit closer to winning. Paris are currently at their peak and we have to top the performance we showed back then. We are confident we will show we have improved. I think every opponent aims to stop Kylian Mbappé, but that doesn't always work. We have to prepare for everything."

Luis Enrique, Paris coach: "There's one month left before the end of the season and we can still win all four competitions; we must manage our emotions well and we must not see pressure as a threat. It is a beautiful thing to enjoy a special match in a unique stadium in Europe and to have the opportunity to reach the final for our supporters. It's going to be a very good show! There could be a lot of goals."

Where is the 2024 Champions League final?

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The best of the best will be crowned on the ultimate stage when the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League season concludes at London's prestigious Wembley Stadium on Saturday 1 June.

The winners gain a place in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League group stage, if they have not qualified via their domestic competition.