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Champions League preview: Quarterfinals spot on the line as Borussia Dortmund travel to PSG

By Tushar Bahl

Dortmund's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland (C) celebrates after scoring the 1-0 during the UEFA Champions League Last 16, first-leg football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Dortmund, western Germany, on February 18, 2020. (Photo by Ina Fassbender / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)
Dortmund's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland (C) celebrates after scoring the 1-0 during the UEFA Champions League Last 16, first-leg football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Dortmund, western Germany, on February 18, 2020. (Photo by Ina Fassbender / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) /
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DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 18: Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint Germain (R) battles for the ball with Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund (L) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on February 18, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Ricardo Nogueira/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 18: Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint Germain (R) battles for the ball with Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund (L) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on February 18, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Ricardo Nogueira/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) /

Players to Watch

Borussia Dortmund’s lethal attacking duo of Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland will again be key, but the result will rest on how well they can defend. Mats Hummels impressed in the first leg against PSG and again at the weekend.

His leadership and composure in the middle of Dortmund’s back three will again be crucial on Wednesday. Hummels’ excellent reading of the game and experience help make up for his lack of pace. And Dortmund fans will be hoping that he can keep PSG’s star studded attack quiet for 90 minutes.

Emre Can has been a revelation since moving to Borussia Dortmund in January. The German international was excellent in the first leg, and if he can replicate that performance in Paris, there is no reason why Dortmund can’t go through to the quarter-finals.

Kylian Mbappe has scored a whopping 30 goals this season, including four in his last three games.  He has an excellent record against Borussia Dortmund, and if he is on his game, PSG will fancy their chances of going through.

With PSG missing a number of key defensive players through injuries and suspension, the performance of Marquinhos will be crucial. It remains to be seen if he will start in defence or midfield, but the Brazilian will need to be at his best to stop Borussia Dortmund on the counter attack.

If Marquinhos and co. can keep the likes of Sancho, Hazard and Haaland quiet, PSG will become the favourites to go through.

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