Marcel Sabitzer played a key role in Borussia Dortmund’s thrilling 4-2 victory over Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, securing their spot in the Champions League semifinals.
Despite trailing after the first leg in Madrid, Dortmund fought back twice to win 5-4 on aggregate.
Julian Brandt scored the opening goal to level the tie, followed by Ian Maatsen’s goal set up by Sabitzer, giving Dortmund a 2-0 lead. However, Atlético responded strongly after halftime, with goals from Mats Hummels (an own goal) and substitute Joaquín Correa, putting them ahead on aggregate.
But Sabitzer’s assist for Niclas Füllkrug’s goal in the 71st minute and his own goal three minutes later turned the tide in Dortmund’s favor, securing their place in the semifinals.
Dortmund’s CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke, expressed his delight, highlighting the significance of reaching the semifinals after an eight-year gap. Dortmund will now face Paris Saint-Germain in the next round, setting up a rematch of their earlier encounters this season.
The final will take place on June 1 in London, where Dortmund aims to erase the disappointment of their 2013 final loss to Bayern Munich. Despite Atlético’s strong performance, their missed opportunities in the first leg proved costly, with goalkeeper Jan Oblak making crucial saves to keep Dortmund at bay.
