Borussia Dortmund is just potentially 180 minutes away from securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League final, a milestone they haven't reached since the 2012/13 season. In their tenth appearance in the UCL since then, they are set to face PSG in the semi-finals. Dortmund will aim to gain an advantage in the first leg at home before heading to Paris, but their recent track record at home in UCL knockout matches - with only six wins in their last 12 games (D1, L5) - indicates that it won't be an easy task.
Leading up to this crucial match, Dortmund faced a setback with a 4-1 loss to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, making it unlikely for them to finish in the top four this season. However, it's still possible that a fifth-place finish could secure their spot in next season's tournament. Winning the UCL this year would grant them automatic qualification for 2024/25, but overcoming PSG, a team they struggled against in their previous encounters this season (D1, L1), presents a significant challenge. Nonetheless, Dortmund has never lost a home match to PSG in European competition (W1, D2).
On the other hand, PSG narrowly avoided defeat against Le Havre recently, managing to salvage a 3-3 draw after being down 3-1. Although they missed the opportunity to secure the Ligue 1 title, they eventually clinched it due to Monaco's result against Lyon. PSG will look to maintain their focus and avoid any complacency after their title victory, especially considering their mixed recent away record in Germany (W1, D2, L4).
While Ligue 1 titles are almost routine for PSG, winning the UEFA Champions League has eluded them so far. However, with their eyes set on reaching their first European final since 2020 and with confidence from their previous away wins in the knockout stages, PSG will be eager to secure a positive result in the first leg and carry that momentum into the return fixture at home.