On Wednesday, Niclas Fuellkrug gave Borussia Dortmund a 1-0 home win over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.
Seeking to return to the final for the first time since 2013, the 1997 champions were tenacious and resolute, outmuscling their strongly favored opponents.
Fuellkrug, who is in his debut Champions League season at the age of 31, collected a lofted pass from centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck in the 36th minute and fired a low effort into the left corner of the net.
PSG, spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe, hit the post twice in quick succession early in the second half but were unable to come through.
Dortmund, who have already lost and drawn against PSG in the group stage this season, can still dream of returning to Wembley 11 years after their last Champions League final.
Despite the defeat, PSG will be hopeful of overcoming the gap at home next week against a team they completely trounced at home in September.
Edin Terzic, Dortmund’s manager, stated before the match that PSG had been “built to win the Champions League” since the Qatari takeover a decade ago.
The disparity between the two clubs was most evident between PSG’s global sensation Mbappe, who was playing in his final season for his hometown club, and journeyman Dortmund striker Fuellkrug, who was playing second-tier football two years ago.
Dortmund had the best of the early moments, fueled by a raucous home crowd that booed and whistled at every Mbappe touch, with Jadon Sancho excelling down the right side.
After 14 minutes, Marcel Sabitzer had Dortmund’s greatest chance to open the scoring, firing straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma from a tight angle.
Fuellkrug opened the scoring after 36 minutes with some fantastic old-school forward play.
Centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck had the ball well in his own half and considered a safe pass back to the goalkeeper, but instead punted it forward, with only Fuellkrug aware of the plan.
The striker controlled the ball with a single touch before drilling a low shot past Donnarumma.
PSG, who had just won the Ligue 1 title, had little chances in the first half, with zero shots on target.
However, the visitors came alive after halftime, with Mbappe rattling the inside of one post seconds before former Dortmund winger Achraf Hakimi did the same.
PSG should have equalised after 56 minutes when Marquinhos curled a brilliant pass through a congested Dortmund area, but Fabian Ruiz’s diving header sailed wide.
With 10 minutes remaining, another former Dortmund player, Ousmane Dembele, smashed over directly in front.
With seconds remaining, the brilliant Sancho laid on a wonderful ball for Julian Brandt, but Dortmund’s dreams of a second goal were dashed by desperate PSG defending.
The victory, along with Tuesday’s 2-2 draw between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the second semi-final, ensures Germany, rather than England or France, an additional Champions League spot for next season.
Dortmund’s participation in the competition for next season has already been confirmed.