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Borussia Dortmund: What went wrong in the Champions League defeat to PSG

By Adam Bakr

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 11: (FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE) In this handout image provided by UEFA, Emre Can, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Raphael Guerreiro of Borussia Dortmund clash with players of Paris Saint-Germain as referee Anthony Taylor attempts to split them up during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes on March 11, 2020 in Paris, France. The match is played behind closed doors as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). (Photo by UEFA - Handout/UEFA via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 11: (FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE) In this handout image provided by UEFA, Emre Can, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Raphael Guerreiro of Borussia Dortmund clash with players of Paris Saint-Germain as referee Anthony Taylor attempts to split them up during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes on March 11, 2020 in Paris, France. The match is played behind closed doors as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). (Photo by UEFA - Handout/UEFA via Getty Images) /
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DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 01: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and 1. FC Union Berlin at Signal Iduna Park on February 1, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 01: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and 1. FC Union Berlin at Signal Iduna Park on February 1, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

Still Reus’ team

This is not a line up issue since he was injured, and it may be an obvious point after all this time, but the side will never be the same with Marco Reus injured. Fortunately, there is very little doubt that Reus will return to the lineup when he is fit, but it cannot be understated how big the absence of the captain is for the side, all around the side.

Similar to Brandt, Reus is the primary ball carrier down the middle of the field. His ability to go vertically and horizontally would have proved valuable in a game Dortmund really struggled to move the ball productively.

His ability to play off of the striker has also been missed. Erling Haaland has now gone three games without a goal, and while the mini-drought is not too concerning, his lack of involvement in Paris proved to be an issue.

Reus can link up through traffic in the box, often shown with Paco Alcacer before Haaland joined the side. His off ball movement also creates space for the striker on most occasions. These are two things Dortmund were missing in the Paris defeat and Haaland had to pay the price with his least involved game since signing with the Black and Yellows.

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