Marco Reus and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (l-r.) were on target for Borussia Dortmund in Milan. - © Imago
Marco Reus and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (l-r.) were on target for Borussia Dortmund in Milan. - © Imago
bundesliga

Borussia Dortmund into UEFA Champions League round of 16 with Milan win

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Jamie Bynoe-Gittens starred as Borussia Dortmund won 3-1 away to AC Milan to secure their place in the UEFA Champions League knockouts with one game to spare.

AC Milan 1-3 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 0-1
Reus pen. 10', 1-1 Chukwueze 37', 1-2 Bynoe-Gittens 59' (assist: Sabitzer) , 1-3 Adeyemi 69' (assist: Reus)

Gregor Kobel spared Dortmund the worst possible start with a superb penalty save from Olivier Giroud, after Nico Schlotterbeck was adjudged to have handled in the box. BVB went up the other end to win a penalty of their own through Bynoe-Gittens. Marco Reus proceeded to show Giroud how it was done to give Dortmund a lead they might have added to when the brilliant Bynoe-Gittens waltzed into the box, before firing over. Kobel was made to work by former Dortmund man Christian Pulisic, but was powerless to stop Samuel Chukwueze capping a mazy run with a fierce finish into the bottom corner, against the run of play.

Davide Calabria headed wide and Pulisic had an acrobatic attempt blocked as Milan turned the screw, but Dortmund rode the storm. Moments after Mats Hummels had put in a goal-saving challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the Black-Yellows retook the lead. Niclas Füllkrug combined with Marcel Sabitzer on the edge of the area to set up Bynoe-Gittens for a composed finish into the bottom corner. Substitute Karim Adeyemi added a third with a shot that Mike Maignan got a hand to, while the woodwork denied Füllkrug a slice of the goal-scoring pie late on. BVB join Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig in the last 16, and will advance as section winners if they avoid defeat at home to Paris Saint-Germain in their final Group F fixture on 13 December.

Match stats

  • Dortmund have won back-to-back away Champions League games for the first time in almost three years.
  • Reus is Dortmund’s 23-goal record scorer in the Champions League. He has struck three times against Italian opposition (Napoli and Juventus).
  • BVB have conceded just three goals across five group matches. Only Inter Milan have shipped fewer goals (two, albeit in four games).
  • Dortmund celebrated the greatest success in their history against a team from Italy, beating Juventus 3-1 in the 1997 UEFA Champions League final.
  • Die Schwarzgelben were the last German team to win away to AC Milan, with Jan Koller the matchwinner (18 March 2003).
  • Pulisic made 127 competitive appearances for Dortmund, registering 19 goals and 26 assists.

Teams

Milan: Maignan - Calabria (c), Thiaw (Krunić 53'), Tomori, Hernández - Loftus-Cheek, Adli (Jović 77'), Reijnders - Chukwuez (Traoré 76'), Giroud, Pulisic
Unused subs: Nava, Mirante, Pobega, Florenzi, Bartesaghi
Out: Bennacer (knee), Caldara (ankle), Kalulu (thigh), Kjær (muscular), Musa (suspended), Okafor (hamstring), Pellegrino (ankle), Sportiello (muscular)
Coach: Stefano Pioli 

Dortmund: Kobel - Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck (Özcan 55'), Bensebaini - Sabitzer, Can (c) - Malen (Adeyemi 56'), Reus (Brandt 79'), Bynoe-Gittens (Wolf 66') - Füllkrug
Unused subs: Meyer, Lotka, Reyna, Haller, Moukoko, Blank
Out: Duranville (thigh), Nmecha (hip), Süle (ill)
Coach: Edin Terzić

As it happened!

1 - 3

(1 - 1)

Milan
FINAL
Dortmund
Champions League
Group F, Matchday 5
Group F, Matchday 5 San Siro, Milan
90'
+ 6

Dortmund into last 16!

They've done it! Victory in Milan secures BVB's place in the knockouts, with room to spare. Avoid defeat to PSG on 13 December, and they'll go into the hat as Group F winners. Brilliant effort!
Full-time
90'
+ 2

Kobel!

Another big stop to thwart Jovic. He's been brilliant tonight.
89'

Added time

Six additional minutes to go. With Newcastle still leading PSG, BVB are heading through as group winners...
88'

Woodwork!

Adeyemi works some magic on the left and pulls a cross back to the penalty spot for Füllkrug. He puts his laces through it, but the ball rattles the upright!
86'

Post!

Kobel's beaten this time, but Jovic's header cannons behind off the left-hand post. Füllkrug had gone within centimetres of a fourth BVB goal moments earlier!
83'

Kobel claw

Dortmund's No.1 is off his line to bat clear Pulisic's probing cross. Ex-Frankfurt striker Jovic was lurking...
82'

Wide!

Traore puts an effort wide from a corner. Kobel had it covered.
79'

Reus knock

Reus goes off after landing awkwardly to avoid being taken down by sliding teammate Hummels. Hopefully a precaution more than anything else. Dortmund's biggets goal threat of the season so far, Brandt, is his replacement...
77'

Substitution

69'

Daylight for Dortmund!

It gets better for BVB! Reus takes a Milan defender one way, Adeyemi goes the other with a lovely drag of the ball setting up the shot. He catches it well and, although Maignan gets a hand to it, it does cross the line. Dortmund are heading through as Group F winners, as things stand!
69'
Karim Adeyemi
66'

Take a bow

Dortmund's best player makes way. Two straight starts for the young Englishman - he really adds another dimension to the BVB attack.
59'

Dortmund retake the lead!

Moments after a goal-saving challenge from Hummels in the Dortmund box, BVB get their noses back in front. Füllkrug and Sabitzer combine on the edge of the area, where Bynoe-Gittens pops up to stroke a composed finish beyond Maignan.
55'

Schlotterbeck injury

The Dortmund defender stays down. Must be muscular. Özcan is on.
53'

Midfielder for a centre-back

Midfielder Rade Krunić is Thiaw's replacement for injury-hit Milan. Can BVB exploit their patchwork back line?
50'

Thiaw concern

The former Schalke defender races back to stop Bynoe-Gittens putting in a cross, but pulls a muscle in the process. It doesn't look good for him...
48'

Blocked!

Hummels gets his head to a Calabria cross in front of Giroud. Pulisic goes for an overhead attempt, but Ryerson makes the block. Dortmund need to ride this storm...
46'

Second half

No changes from either side. Milan are immediately on the front foot...
Kick-off!
45'
+ 3

Half-time! Milan 1-1 Dortmund

Dortmund are still top of Group F, but need to win to secure qualification to the last 16 ahead of Matchday 6. Kobel saved a penalty before Reus converted one at the other end, but Milan sneaked an equaliser against the run of play through Chukwueze.
Half-time
45'
+ 2

So close!

Calabria's all alone at the back post as he tries to steer a Pulisic cross goalwards, but Kobel and Hummels are confident enough to watch it wide.
45'

Added time

Three additional minutes at the end of a competitive first half...
44'

Bynoe-Gittens threat

Bynoe-Gittens is at it again, running at the retreating Milan defence. He weights a lovely pass into the feet of Sabitzer, but his cut-back is behind Füllkrug and the hosts can clear.
42'

Backs to the wall

Dortmund have some defending to do. They do not want to go in at the break chasing the game.
38'

Milan equalise

Moments after Malen has a shot charged down, Milan are level. It's a jinking run from Chukwueze into the box, matched by a fine finish into the bottom corner. Very much against the run of play. Can BVB regroup?
37'
32'

Goal in Paris!

And it's ex-Dortmund striker Alexander Isak who has put Newcastle in front. Superb news for Dortmund - and a lifeline for Milan.
28'

Ryerson!

Ryerson winds up as a ball is played across the Milan area. It's on target, but a Milan shirt gets in the way. That may have had Maignan beaten!
25'

Warning shot

Adli bends a pass into the six-yard box for Giroud. He controls well under pressure, but Schlotterbeck stays with him to make a crucial block in front of Kobel.
24'

Denied!

Malen ties up the Milan defence, before crossing low into the six-yard box. Maignan gets down to block, though, with Bynoe-Gittens waiting for the tap-in.
23'

Kobel save

Dortmund's No.1 showing why he's one of the Bundesliga's best goalkeepers with another sprawling stop - this one to keep out Pulisic's 18-yard strike.
19'

Chance!

Bynoe-Gittens collects a long ball and skates past Calabria, before sending a rising drive over the crossbar from inside the box. Malen was in the six-yard box and might have been the better option.
17'

Rolls Reus

Reus is Dortmund’s 23-goal record scorer in the Champions League. He has now struck three times against Italian opposition.
13'

Right idea

Milan cannot contain Bynoe-Gittens. He drives forward again and tries to thread a pass into the box for Füllkrug, but it has just too much on it.
10'

Dortmund lead!

Unerring accuracy from Reus, who fires his penalty out of Maignan's reach. As things stand, BVB are heading through to the last 16...
10'

Marco Reus

GOAL!

0:1
Marco Reus
8'

BVB penalty!

Bynoe-Gittens goes on the outside of Calabria, before going down under the Milan captain's attempted challenge. Can Reus show Giroud how it's done?
6'

Saved!

Kobel guesses right, and beats away the spot-kick. Superb goalkeeping!
5'

Penalty!

Schlotterbeck is penalised for blocking a shot with his hand. Giroud to take the penalty...
4'

Let-off for Dortmund!

Milan have BVB hemmed in early on. A ball comes in from the right, but it's just behind Giroud in the six-yard box.
1'

Under way!

Dortmund are kicking from left to right as the game kicks off. Can they seal their place in the knockouts?
Kick-off!

Teams out!

The Champions League anthem blares out around the ground as the teams assemble on the pitch. Kick-off is moments away...

Dortmund's 12th man

The away end is decked in black and yellow. The Dortmund fans are really making themselves heard.
camera-photo

Ryerson sees positives

"In such a difficult group, we still have everything in our own hands. We couldn't have asked for anything better. Against Milan at home we could have beaten them. Now it's away, but we still go there with confidence as first in the group and we want to achieve qualification there."

Group F permutations

Dortmund will join Bayern and Leipzig in the round of 16, if they beat Milan. BVB will be confirmed as group winners, if they win and Newcastle get the better of PSG.

More on Dortmund's team

Terzić makes one change to the team that came from behind to beat Gladbach at the weekend. Talisman Julian Brandt drops out, with Donyell Malen - who scored a late goal from the bench on Saturday - restored to the attack. Pulisic's US teammate Gio Reyna is among the substitutes.

More on Milan's team

Former Dortmund star Christian Pulisic starts out wide for Milan, but his USMNT teammate Yunuis Musah is suspended. Olivier Giroud, suspended domestically, is available to lead the line in Europe. Samuel Chukwueze takes the place of the injured Rafael Leão.

Dortmund subs

Meyer, Lotka, Özcan, Reyna, Haller, Wolf, Moukoko, Brandt, Adeyemi, Blank

Dortmund XI

Kobel - Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini - Sabitzer, Can (c) - Malen, Reus, Bynoe-Gittens - Füllkrug

Milan subs

Nava, Mirante, Jović, Pobega, Krunić, Florenzi, Traorè, Bartesaghi

Milan XI

Maignan - Calabria (c), Thiaw, Tomori, Hernández - Loftus-Cheek, Adli, Reijnders - Chukwueze, Giroud, Pulisic
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Secret of success?

"With a lot of very hard work, we have put ourselves in a great position in the group. We have everything in our own hands," said Füllkrug, whose team are a point ahead of PSG in the section and two clear of Milan with Newcastle a further point back, before revealing the secret to continued success. "Show humility every day, work, work, and do your homework."
2:44
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Füllkrug form

Niclas Füllkrug's strike in the Matchday 11 loss to Stuttgart was his third league goal in his last six top-flight outings. The 30-year-old forward maintained his sensational start to his international career with a tenth goal in just 12 senior appearances for Germany during the November break. Only Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry has reached double figures for goals in fewer Germany appearances (11) than Füllkrug in the last 45 years.

Jovic reunion

Pulisic isn't the only former Bundesliga threat in the Milan ranks. Luka Jovic scored 40 goals in 93 competitive appearances in a combined two-and-a-half seasons at Eintracht Frankfurt, including 17 goals in 32 Bundesliga games in a bountiful 2018/19 campaign.
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Pulisic threat

USMNT star Christian Pulisic joined Milan from Chelsea this summer, having left the Signal Iduna Park for Stamford Bridge in 2019 with 19 goals, 26 assists, 127 games and a DFB Cup winner's medal under his belt. He's just coming back from a thigh injury that has kept him out since early November, and Dortmund coach Edin Terzić should know how to put the brakes on the American: he was assistant coach at BVB for Pulisic's final two years in a black-and-yellow shirt.
1:44
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Kobel key?

One of the reasons Dortmund have been so stingy is goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who was superb in the goalless draw at home to Milan on Matchday 2. "The players in front of you are also super cool," the Switzerland international replied when told he looked calm and showed patience in the face of the Italian team's forwards. "If you give them space too soon or choose a side, they see it."

Sound defence

Edin Terzic's men have struggled to keep domestic rivals at bay, but in continental competition, they are watertight. With just two goals conceded across four games, Dortmund have the joint-best defence in this season’s groups, along with Inter Milan and Barcelona, and they have kept three successive clean sheets.
4:05
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Goals galore

BVB have been racking up the goals this season so what better time to sit back and enjoy the Black-and-Yellows in goal-getting form!
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History lesson

Sammer was the Dortmund coach when BVB became only the second team to defeat Milan in the Champions League thanks to a Jan Koller goal at San Siro in March 2003. And if you're still curious: Hertha Berlin in 1999 are other Bundesliga victors vs. the Rossoneri in the competition.

Sammer impressed

"Seven points from four games is very good," said former Dortmund Champions League winner Matthias Sammer, who has seen BVB secure back-to-back wins against Newcastle United to move to the top of Group F. "It's by far the toughest group in this season's Champions League. Beating Newcastle twice is very difficult and they've done that."
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Welcome!

Borussia Dortmund can take a major step towards the knockout stages if they can record only a third win by a German club against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League when the pair meet on Matchday 5.