Maximilian Beier to the rescue as Borussia Dortmund come from behind against Lille to reach UEFA Champions League quarter-finals
Borussia Dortmund will face Barcelona in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after coming from behind to beat Lille in France in the round of 16.
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Lille 1-2 Borussia Dortmund Goals: 1-0 David 5’ (assist: Ismaily), 1-1 Can 54’ (pen.), 1-2 Beier 65’ (assist: Guirassy)
Following a first-leg stalemate in Germany, Dortmund got off to the worst start possible in France, going a goal down after just five minutes. Karim Adeyemi lost possession to Ismaily near the halfway line and the Lille winger burst down the left flank before finding Jonathan David alone in space in the box. The Canadian simply slotted his effort through the legs of Gregor Kobel, who will be hugely disappointed not to have kept such a weak effort out. Unfortunately for Dortmund, the opposition goalkeeper was in far better form than their own. Lucas Chevalier pulled off a string of superb saves throughout the opening period, with Pascal Groß in particular being frustrated by the Frenchman on several occasions. The highlight was a quadruple save following a corner in the 20th minute, including a point-blank stop from Serhou Guirassy following a superb initial stop. When Groß finally did beat the ‘keeper in first-half stoppage time, he saw a powerful header skim the top of the crossbar and fly out of play.
Dortmund started the second half brightly, pinning Lille deep in their half and aggressively winning back possession whenever the home side looked to break forward. They got their reward in the 52nd minute, when Dortmund old boy Thomas fouled Guirassy from behind inside his area. Captain Emre Can did the honours, blasting his effort down the middle of the goal to draw his side level. Dortmund maintained the heavy pressure after scoring, going close through Adeyemi on the hour mark, before finally taking the lead in the 64th minute. Guirassy fed Maximilain Beier inside the Lille area and the forward skipped past a defender before smashing his side in front. Dortmund had to dig deep to maintain their lead late on – Kobel redeeming himself with strong saves from David in the 80th minute and Chuba Akpom in the 85th. Lille kept probing to the end, but Dortmund held their nerve to clinch a comeback win to savour and a quarter-final meeting with Hansi Flick's Barcelona.
Can scored his fourth penalty of the season in his fourth attempt, maintaining a perfect record. Beier’s goal was his first Champions League strike of the season, arriving in his 11th appearance.
Guirassy, 29, became the first player to feature in the Champions League for Dortmund on his birthday since Christian Pulisic, against Club Brugge, back in 2018.
Guirassy is without a goal in three Champions League games, but still second in this season's scoring charts, one behind Barcelona's Raphinha, on 10.
Dortmund qualified from a European knockout encounter after drawing the home first leg for just the second time in eight attempts. The last time they did it was in the first round of the 1993/94 UEFA Cup, against Russian side Alania Vladikavkaz.
Lille have now won just two of their 13 encounters with German clubs. Meanwhile, they have drawn three and lost once against Dortmund.
Champions League Round of 16, second leg Round of 16, second leg Stade Pierre Mauroy
Full-time: Lille 1-2 Dortmund
Dortmund book their place in the quarter finals! Having fallen behind after five minutes and being denied by Chevalier between the sticks on multiple occasions in the first half, the Black & Yellows came out in the second half with real determination. An Emre Can penalty levelled the scores, awarded after Meunier brought down Guirassy. 10 minutes later, Guirassy was involved again, teeing Beier up, who smashed home the tie's winner into the top corner. Lille searched for a response, but Dortmund defended valiantly, surviving the first half scare to progress through the competition.
André turns his marker on the edge of the Dortmund box. He lays it to David, who tries to chip it through to Akpom, but Schlotterbeck is alert to the danger, heading it clear.
90'
+ 1
Added time
Four additional minutes are indicated. Can Dortmund hold their lead?
The goalscorer departs
Beier has done everything he can to win this tie for Dortmund. He has since been replaced by Reyna.
Lille are throwing everything they have at this. The French side are bombarding the Dortmund box, trying to get it to Akpom and David, but time and time again Dortmund are first to the ball as they try and protect their lead.
86'
Triple change
Niko Kovač goes to the bench to hold onto his lead. Özcan, Chukwuemeka, and Reyna replace Groß, Brandt, and the goalscorer Beier.
David crosses to Akpom at the far post. It's a floated ball and Akpom has to generate all the power on the header himself. His effort doesn't do enough to trouble Kobel, who gathers it.
A perfectly-timed tackle from Schlotterbeck on David puts a stop to a really promising Lille attack, after David and Haraldsson combined really well.
80'
On target
Haraldsson crosses into David from the right. The Canadian international volleys an attempt goalwards, connecting with it well, but it's straight into the arms of Kobel.
Guirassy sends Brandt through just left of the centre of the pitch. The German charges forward, attempting a finish with his left foot, but it's just wide of the post. It wouldn't have counted anyway, however, as the assistant had his flag raised.
74'
Offensive change
Teenage midfield sensation Bouaddi is replaced by forward Fernandez-Pardo as Lille chase a way back into this tie.
Bruno Génésio goes to the bench after Beier took the lead for Dortmund. Akpom and Gudmundsson replace Cabella and Ismaily. Can the substitutes inject some more life back into this Lille side?
That's been coming for the visitors. Ryerson plays Guirassy through down the left. The Guinean lays it off to Beier, expecting the return ball. Instead, Beier opts to go alone, taking a touch to open his body up before rifling it into the top right with considerable venom. What a finish!
A great ball comes in from the left for Dortmund. Beier gets his head on it, trying to guide it into the near post, but he can't get enough purchase on it and it's wide of the mark.
62'
Off the bar again!
Dortmund have an overload down the left. Brandt plays it to the overlapping Ryerson, who cuts it back low into the box. Adeyemi gets on the end of it, his powerful shot cannoning off the top of the crossbar. Chevalier was rooted to the spot.
61'
Haraldsson!
The first leg goalscorer unleashes a shot from the edge of the Dortmund box. It's moving in the air, but Kobel manages to tip it over the bar. The resultant corner comes to nothing for the hosts.
60'
Clever
Adeyemi attempts to release Sabitzer with a deft flick on from a long ball, but it's just too heavy for the Austrian to reach.
58'
Ryerson hits it
The full-back wins the ball back high up the pitch. Opting to go alone, he strikes from outside the box, but balloons it high and wide of the mark.
54'
Dortmund have their leveller!
Captain Can steps up to take the penalty. Stuttering his run-up, he sends Chevalier diving to his left before smashing it down the middle to level the game and level the tie.
Brandt plays a one-two with Anton. He reaches the byline and digs out a cross, looking for Guirassy at the far post. Chevalier tracks the flight of the ball, managing to pluck it out of the sky at full stretch. Good goalkeeping.
48'
Lively restart
Dortmund have come out after the break with renewed vigour. Guirassy hit a shot from the edge of the box, which was blocked, and Adeyemi has been really aggressive in the press. Can the Black & Yellows find a leveller early on here?
46'
Back underway!
Lille get the ball rolling again here in Northern France. Both sides emerge unchanged.
Kick-off!
Half-time: Lille 1-0 Dortmund
It's advantage Lille as the sides go in at the break. David gave the hosts the lead inside five minutes, managing to squeeze it home past Kobel. Dortmund looked to respond as the half went on, going close through Ryerson, Groß and Guirassy. Lille have managed at least two goal-line clearances and goalkeeper Chevalier has been in inspired form. Groß also struck the crossbar just before the end of the half, but as things stand, Lille are set to advance through this tie. Niko Kovač's men have a big 45 minutes ahead of them.
Anton plays a fantastic cross from deep on the right, picking out a long run from Groß. The German connects well with the header, but it clips the bar and goes over. The keeper was beaten...
45'
+ 1
Added time
Two additional minutes are indicated.
44'
Another corner
Brandt has a cross deflected behind for a corner. Ryerson takes it again and Can wins the header, but it's over the bar.
43'
Guirassy nearly goes through
A ball in from the right finds Beier on the edge of the Lille box. He spins his man before attempting to thread a pass through between the lines for Guirassy to latch onto, but it's intercepted.
38'
Cleared
A misplaced header from Ismaily trickles behind for a Dortmund corner. Ryerson takes an out-swinger from the right, but Lille are first to the ball to head it clear.
34'
Corner
Haraldsson takes it short from the left again. He combines well with Ismaily, receiving the ball back before digging a cross out from the byline. He finds André in the middle, who has a free header but sends it wide of the right post. That was a big chance for the captain.
32'
Anton booked
The defender brings down Ismaily on Dortmund's right, receiving the first yellow card of the game. He will now miss the first leg of the quarter-finals, should Dortmund go through.
Can brings David down outside the Dortmund box. Cabella takes it, feinting a shot before chipping it to Alexsandro at the far post, who tries to head it back across goal, however, it goes behind for a goal-kick.
28'
Off target
Lille work it well to Cabella down the right. He crosses low into the middle, but Dortmund get it clear to the edge of the box. It falls to captain André, whose shot is wild and misses the mark.
David celebrates
As things stand, the Canadian international's finish is enough to send Lille through to the quarter-finals. There's a long game ahead of them, however, and Dortmund have already come incredibly close to drawing level...
In the midst of that goal-mouth scramble, there was a VAR check for a potential penalty to Dortmund, but it's since been cleared.
21'
How are they not level?!
The corner comes in from the right. Can wins the initial header by the penalty spot, forcing a fantastic reaction save from Chevalier from point-blank range. It drops to Guirassy, who tries to poke it home, but a defender clears it off the line. It then drops to Brandt, who strikes another powerful shot goalwards and again it's cleared off the line! Lille hanging on here.
19'
Ryerson again
The full-back does excellently. He picks the pocket of Meunier to win the ball at the Lille byline before weaving his way into the box and hitting a powerful shot low towards the far corner. Chevalier does well to get down and parry it behind for a corner. Dortmund are getting closer...
18'
Off the line!
Guirassy spearheads a Dortmund counter-attack. He plays it to his left, finding Groß. The German curls a precise effort towards the far corner. Chevalier is beaten in goal, but Alexsandro does excellently to get back and clear it off the line.
16'
Corner
Cabella wins it down the left for Lille. It's taken short and Lille maintain possession but are forced backwards and the chance in the box dissipates.
14'
Just over
Lille's high pressing is rewarded with a chance. Meunier wins it in the Dortmund box before playing it to Haraldsson, who chips it over for Cabella. The winger strikes it on the volley, making good contact but sending it over the bar.
13'
Ryerson shoots
Sabitzer swings a cross into the Lille box from the right. It's headed out to Ryerson on the edge of the box, who goes for the attempt under pressure, but sends it over the bar.
9'
Brief stoppage
After a pause in play which allows the players to rehydrate, play resumes.
6'
Dream start for Lille!
Ismaily drives down the left for Lille. Reaching the box, his only option in the middle is David. The full-back crosses low into the Canadian international, who hits it first-time with his left, squeezing the ball between the legs of both Schlotterbeck and Kobel. 1-0 Lille!
A long ball over the top from Lille forces Anton to make an early sprint back towards his goal, having returned to the starting line-up today. The German international deals with it well, clearing the danger.
1'
And we're off!
Dortmund get the ball rolling here in the north of France.
Kick-off!
Adeyemi the key?
Adeyemi is selected to start once again by boss Kovač. The German international scored an eye-watering half-volley in the first leg, which was his fifth goal in seven appearances in the UEFA Champions League this season, as well as his third in three career appearances against hosts Lille.
For Bruno Génésio's Lille side, there are two changes from his side that beat Montpellier 1-0 on Saturday. Bakker and André Gomes start on the bench, being replaced by Ismaily and Mukau.
More on that Dortmund line-up
Niko Kovač makes four changes to his side that lost 1-0 at home to Augsburg at the weekend. Couto, Bensebaini, Özcan and Gittens all drop to the bench. In their places come Ryerson, Anton, Sabitzer and Beier.
Following Raphinha's brace for Barcelona yesterday against Benfica (which took him up to 11 goals), birthday boy Serhou Guirassy (10 goals) is no longer the top scorer in this season's instalment of the Champions League. Will the Guinean find the goal that will propel him back to the top of the pile this evening in Lille?
Experience the difference maker?
Kovač points to the experience within his squad as a potential tie-decider: "It will be a very even, close game. But my team is significantly more experienced. And I hope that that will be the deciding factor in us leaving the pitch with a win, regardless of whether it's after 90 or 120 minutes."
Lille's teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi caught the headlines after last week's first leg, as he became the fourth-youngest player ever to start a Champions League knockout match. The youngster has enjoyed a memorable Champions League campaign so far, featuring in Lille's defeat of Real Madrid in the league phase before earning the player of the match award against Juventus on Matchday 4. Dortmund's midfield will need to keep a close eye out for the Frenchman as the tie hangs in the balance.
Kovač: Chukwuemeka making progress
"Carney can be used, he has trained fully. He doesn't yet have the capacity to play over 90 minutes. We've seen his abilities. I hope we'll see them again when he's available for 20-30 minutes."
"When you have played the group phase, every game is a final. We already experienced that against Sporting, and it will be the same tomorrow. Those are the great games, that's what makes it so interesting. We are aware of our chances. I am in good spirits, but we definitely have to improve."
"Having experienced certain situations, it's easier to face up to them, to give off a positive vibe to the team. You have to be confident and show calmness and serenity to prepare for this match," said Génésio. "I don't usually talk a lot the day before a game. But we've had an exceptional run, and we want it to continue."
Génésio: "It's 50-50"
Are Lille favourites following their first-leg draw in Germany? "We tend to forget that Dortmund were runners-up last season and knocked out PSG en route," said Génésio. "Their players are more experienced than ours. And thirdly, they have three away wins in the Champions League League Phase. It's 50-50."
Lille striker Jonathan David has nailed his club's colours to the mast: "We have already had an exceptional run, but it's a much just like any other: we want to win it."
After coming up against the Yellow Wall last week, Lille can expect a "mur rouge" or "Red Wall" behind them as a group of fans has called on their fellow supporters to wear the hosts' red for the game.
2018 FIFA World Cup winner Samuel Umtiti (calf), Edon Zhegrova (groin), and Tiago Santos (knee) are the major absentees from the Lille squad that Bruno Génésio can select from for the second leg.
If the Champions League top scorer can recreate the kind of form that saw him net four goals in a 6-0 win over Union Berlin at the end of February, Dortmund have every chance of progressing.
Monte Carlo Niko
Dortmund coach Niko Kovač has experience in French football with a spell as Monaco coach between 2020 and 2022. He failed to win in three meetings against Lille during that time.
While Guirassy may not have such fond memories of Lille, he worked well with current Lille coach Bruno Génésio at Rennes between 2021 and 2022, scoring 18 goals in 59 matches under him before returning to the Bundesliga at Stuttgart.
Dortmund trained at home on Tuesday morning before planning to travel to Northern France - with Niko Kovač to hold a press conference the evening before the crunch encounter.
Gittens in a tough spell
By contrast, Jamie Gittens is struggling. He's not had a single goal involvement in the Rückrunde, that's eight league games and five Champions League matches. Perhaps he'll refine his form vs. Lille.
Lille's Canada international striker Jonathan David will be a significant threat: he has scored six times in nine UEFA Champions League games this season, and has four goal involvements (2 goals, 2 assists) in his last four outings in the competition.
The French outfit have won just two of their 12 encounters with German clubs. Meanwhile, they have now drawn all three matches with Borussia Dortmund.
4:10
Watch: All of Karim Adeyemi's Bundesliga goals and assists
Adeyemi was the star of the Dortmund show last week. Enjoy his best Bundesliga moments to whet your appetite for this clash.
Return for Guirassy
The Dortmund striker will return to one of his former clubs in Lille, who he played for in 2015. He only scored once in nine appearances before moving on, but it is fair to say that underwhelming spell has not hampered his career.
Familiar face
Thomas Meunier made 83 appearances over four years with Dortmund before leaving in February of last year. He joined Lille via Trabzonspor in Turkey.
Dortmund will be without Felix Nmecha and Daniel Svensson, who has impressed since his move to Signal Iduna Park in January. Carney Chukwuemeka, meanwhile, is a doubt for the encounter due to a knee issue. Former Schalke midfielder Nabil Bentaleb is ineligible, while Tiago Santos and Edon Zhegrova are also missing.
The Black-Yellows were beaten at home at the weekend by Augsburg.
In the balance
The two teams drew 1-1 at Signal Iduna Park last week. Karim Adeyemi score in the first half to give Dortmund the advantage, but Hákon Arnar Haraldsson equalised for the visitors after the break.
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of the second leg of Borussia Dortmund's round of 16 tie against Lille in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, being played in France on Wednesday.
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First-leg report
Borussia Dortmund were held by Lille in the home leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie after a thunderous first-half strike from Karim Adeyemi was cancelled out in the second period.
Lille kept the ball well and tried to take the game to Dortmund in the early stages, but that presented Niko Kovač's charges with space to exploit in the attacking areas. Adeyemi was in confident mood after a star showing at St. Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday and flashed a shot wide, before this season's Champions League top scorer Serhou Guirassy smashed the side netting in another early opening. After a tight period, Adeyemi rocketed the hosts in front with a thunderous drive on his left boot following a corner. Julian Brandt then sought to pounce after winning possession high up the field, but nobody could convert his drilled ball into the box. Nico Schlotterbeck hammered a testing drive from outside the box just wide as the visitors defended deeply and tried to prevent Dortmund doubling their lead before the break, which the Bundesliga side briefly thought they had done, only for a Pascal Groß effort from close range on the stroke of half-time to be ruled out for offside.
Lille had a lively spell shortly after the restart, with an intricate move around the edge of the box leading to Jonathan David having a shot blocked by Daniel Svensson. Dortmund sat back to try and soak up that pressure and pounce on the break, but were unable to prevent Lille slicing them open midway through the half with a swift attack that saw Hákon Haraldsson slide the ball past Gregor Kobel to level. Dortmund tried to regain the initiative as the game opened up in the final 20 minutes, with Maximilian Beier skewing a shot over from outside the area, but were unable to find the same attacking flow they enjoyed in the first period as the game headed towards a draw, leaving the tie delicately poised heading into next Wednesday's second leg in France.
