A complicated first leg

More than two months after getting through the group stages, Les Parisiens were back in Champions League action on Tuesday evening against Borussia Dortmund, in the first leg of the Round of 16. And to catch Lucien Favre's side by surprise, Thomas Tuchel pulled a 4-3-3 out of the bag.

From the start of the game, the tone was set by the Bundesliga side: incredible intensity in their game, constant pressing and rapid counters were the name of the game. And although the first chance of the game fell to Neymar Jr with a free-kick (9'), the German side looked a constant threat to the Paris defence. The lively Jadon Sancho tried everything: a shot at goal that just missed the target  (14') and another two chances that called Keylor Navas into action (23', 27'). A few minutes later, it was Norwegian forward Erling Haaland who tried his luck with his left foot, but luckily it missed the target (34'). Under extreme pressure and without any space to exploit, Thomas Tuchel's side resisted the Bvb attacks in the first half. 

After the break, the intensity didn't drop off. The home side got the first chance when Hakimi broke down the right, but Keylor Navas cleared the danger authoritatively (48'). It was then Marco Verratti who came to his team's rescue, perfectly clearing the ball from Haaland's feet in the Paris box (50'). From one end to the other of the pitch, the game was really getting going.

Against an incredibly disciplined defence, it was difficult for Les Rouge et Bleu to find a way through Borussia. To try to break the lines, Thomas Tuchel's men opted for a more direct style of play. Kylian Mbappé was played in deep but his powerful half-volley was blocked by Bürki (65'), before the BvB keeper was forced into another stop to deny the n°7 at the end of an excellent team move (66'). It didn't take Dortmund long to react and it was Haaland who opened the scoring, with a predatory finish from close-range (1-0, 69'). The game really kicked on from there and the Paris revolt came in the from of Mbappé-Neymar Jr. The Frenchman did brilliantly and found the Brazilian, who could tap home for the equaliser (1-1, 75'). But just minutes later, BvB took the lead once more through Haaland, with a powerful effort from outside the box (1-2, 77').

The two sides continued to go head to head. And Neymar Jr, with a powerful left-footed effort from outside of the box, hit the post (80'). Les Parisiens pushed and pushed in the final minutes of the game, with Thiago Silva's header (92') and Marquinhos' effort from long-range (93e), but both were in vain.

After a competitive encounter, Paris fell to their first defeat since 2 November, but didn't miss their opportunity to get an away goal. An aggregate score that is far from insurmountable for Les Rouge et Bleu, who will head back to the Parc des Princes for the second leg on 11 March.