PSG fans get over empty feeling after 2-0 victory
Paris St-Germain fans amassed outside the club’s stadium to cheer on the players before the Champions League last-16 game against Borussia Dortmund.
After PSG won 2-0 to secure passage into the quarter-finals, PSG’s players quickly returned the compliment. They whipped off their jerseys, twirling them above their heads as they saluted the huge crowd still waiting outside.
PSG had not reached the quarterfinals since 2016, and television footage showed Neymar crying with relief after the game. The Brazil star scored PSG’s first goal.
PSG trailed 2-1 from the first leg in Germany, raising the possibility of a fourth straight elimination in the last16 stage. Neymar headed in from a corner in the 28th minute and left back Juan Bernat made it 2-0 just before the break.
The club have reached the semifinals only once, in 1995.
The match at Parc des Princes was played in an empty stadium because of the coronavirus outbreak. Around 3000 PSG fans gathered to show their support outside the Parc des Princes before the game and carried on singing during it.
Images of the fans chanting and singing outside were shown on the giant screen inside the stadium, so that the players could see the level of support outside. As the match kicked off at 9pm local time, fans outside let off fireworks. The fans continued to sing during the first half, which in some ways resembled a loud training session. Voices of players and coaches reverberated inside the ground as they encouraged each other or shouted instructions, or when the referee stepped in to talk to players.
PSG striker Edinson Cavani had the first clear chance, with goalkeeper Roman Bu¨rki poking out a foot to save his low shot in the 25th.
Moments later, Bu¨rki failed to claim Angel Di Marı´a’s corner from the right and Neymar — who netted in the first leg — dived to head in.
Dortmund’s defence dozed as Bernat steered in Pablo Sarabia’s cross from the right, following good work from Neymar and Di Marı´a.
Dortmund hardly resembled the side who dominated the first leg, and midfielder Emre Can was sent off near the end after shoving Neymar over. It led to pushing and shoving from players on each side.
PSG went out last year at Parc des Princes to a stoppage-time penalty against Manchester United, and there were nerves late on as Dortmund poured forward.
This time, PSG held firm.