Haaland gives Dortmund priceless lead over PSG

Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain
Goals: 1-0 Haaland (69'), 1-1 Neymar (75'), 2-1 Haaland (77')

Dortmund set a ferocious pace from the outset, but had to wait until over midway into the half to test PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas. England international Jadon Sancho provided the first opening of note, crossing into the arms of the visiting custodian, before forcing him to dive full stretch with a fine curling strike. Thorgan Hazard went up for a header soon after, but couldn’t direct his effort on target. BVB continued to ask questions of the competition’s stingiest defence as Haaland drove into the side netting and headed wide, but PSG survived and will doubtless have been grateful to hear the half-time whistle.

Kylian Mbappe and Neymar had barely had a sniff, but Dortmund were indebted to goalkeeper Roman Bürki for keeping the scores level just past the hour. The Swiss stopper pulled off two strong saves from Mbappe, before Neymar put the follow-up to the second attempt wide. It would have been harsh on Dortmund, but they got the goal their performance so richly deserved when Achraf Hakimi tore down the right and crossed for Haaland to slam home from close range. Neymar reduced the arrears, but the night belonged to Dortmund and Haaland, who collected a pass from teenaged substitute Gio Reyna and thundered in from 18 yards to put the tie in black-and-yellow hands ahead of the second leg in Paris on 11 March.

• Dortmund are the only Bundesliga team yet to lose at home in any competition this season.
• Haaland has scored eight Champions League goals in seven appearances this season (six for former club Red Bull Salzburg).
• The Norwegian teenager has hit 39 goals in 29 competitive appearances in 2019/20, including 11 in seven since joining Dortmund in January.
• US youth international Gio Reyna, 17, made his Champions League debut. He is the youngest Dortmund player and American national to play and assist a goal in the competition's history.
• Hakimi registered his 10th assist of the season, but first in European competition.
• PSG's Thomas Tuchel was Dortmund coach between June 2015 and May 2017, overseeing runners-up and third-placed finishes in the Bundesliga, and winning the 2016/17 DFB Cup.

Dortmund: Bürki - Piszczek (c) Hummels, Zagadou - Hakimi, Can, Witsel, Guerreiro - Hazard (Reyna 67'), Haaland, Sancho (Schmelzer 90')
Unused subs: Hitz, Akanji, Dahoud, Schulz, Götze
Out: Delaney (knee), Reus (groin), Brandt (ankle)
Coach: Lucien favre

PSG: Navas - Meunier, Kimpembe, Silva (c), Kurzawa - Veratti, Marquinhos, Gueye -  Mbappe, Neymar, Di Maria (Sarabia 76')
Unused subs: Rico, Kehrer, Cavani, Icardi, Draxler, Kouassi
Out: Dagba (knee), Diallo (thigh), Bernat (calf)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel

Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain
Goals: 1-0 Haaland (69'), 1-1 Neymar (75'), 2-1 Haaland (77')
Dortmund: Bürki - Piszczek (c) Hummels, Zagadou - Hakimi, Can, Witsel, Guerreiro - Hazard (Reyna 67'), Haaland, Sancho (Schmelzer 90')
PSG: Navas - Meunier, Kimpembe, Silva (c), Kurzawa - Veratti, Marquinhos, Gueye -  Mbappe, Neymar, Di Maria (Sarabia 76')

FULL TIME

It's all over at the Signal Iduna Park where Haaland has once again proven just how good a signing he is for Dortmund. His brace either side of Neymar's strike for PSG give BVB a much deserved first leg victory to take with them to Paris. A superb performance all round from Favre's men.

90' - DORTMUND SUB

The excellent Sancho is replaced by Schmelzer as we go into two minutes of added time.

89' - VERRATTI BOOKED

The visitors are building up the yellows.

87' - MEUNIER BOOKED

He can't handle the excellent footwork from Reyna.

86' - WIDE FROM HAKIMI

Sancho releases Hakimi in the PSG box but the Morocco international can only fire wide of the far post. A third would be very welcome for Dortmund.

85' - FIVE TO GO

It's quietened down somewhat after three goals in the space of eight minutes. With five to go, will we see any late drama?

82' - THE REYNA FACTOR

It's been an enormously impressive cameo from the 17-year-old, who laid on that Haaland stunner to chalk up a first UCL assist in his debut in the tournament.

77' - GOAL! 2-1!

What. A. Goal. And what a response. Reyna has space to run into and he feeds Haaland, who unleashes a stunner from way out into the PSG top corner. An incredible strike and that's his 10th goal in the Champions League already this season.

75' - GOAL! 1-1!

Just like that, PSG are level. Mbappe with some fine work down the right after Zagadou misses a tackle just inside the Dortmund box and the Frenchman squares to Neymar to tap home.

73' - SIGNAL IDUNA PARK IS ROCKING

As if it wasn't rocking already, the home fans have lifted the atmosphere up another notch at the Signal Iduna Park. They sense a big win.

69' - GOAL! 1-0 DORTMUND!

Dortmund have a much deserved lead and who else but Haaland to hand it to them? Fine work from Hakimi down the right sees his cross eventually land at the feet of the Norwegian, who thrashes home from close range.

67' - DORTMUND SUB

Reyna replaces Hazard, handing the 17-year-old American his Champions League debut.

67' - NEYMAR FIRES WIDE

Bürki makes an even better save to deny Mbappe again before Neymar lashes wide on the follow up. Warning signs for Dortmund.

65' - CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

This is excellent covering from Piszczek who cuts out the PSG through ball and keeps Dortmund in possession. The visitors are enjoying their best spell of the second half now as Bürki saves from Mbappe shortly after.

60' - HALF HOUR TO GO

The start of this second half has flown by. No chances of yet, though. Time for some changes?

59' - NEYMAR BOOKED

Another yellow for the Ligue 1 side.

57' - THE HAALAND OUTLET

It's incredible just how much this young lad brings to the Dortmund team. They're able to hit their big man from deep, knowing he can hold off most defenders and bring others into play, providing a superb outlet for Favre's men. The latest example brings Dortmund a corner but it comes to nothing.

54' - GUEYE BOOKED

A first PSG yellow.

54' - SURELY NOT A 0-0?

When we were discussing potential scorelines earlier tonight, the suggestion of a 0-0 was almost laughed out of the room. Surely, these teams can't play out a goalless draw, can they?

50' - HAALAND THE BULLDOZER

The Norwegian robs it off Kimpembe with incredible strength but he's halted just before he can let fly on his left foot. Dortmund well on top.

49' - DORTMUND CORNER

A beautiful clip down the line from Can frees Hakimi, who earns a corner from his run. It's really well worked from Dortmund but the ball won't quite land for them in the PSG box. Another strong start to the half from BVB.

47' - ROCK SOLID DORTMUND

A lot of credit has - rightly - gone to Dortmund's attack in recent weeks but they will be delighted with their defence so far tonight. They haven't given PSG an inch.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY

Here we go...

HALF-TIME

Well, we haven't had the goal fest that many predicted just yet but we have had a relentless first 45 minutes in Dortmund. The home side have been the better side and came the closest to taking the lead through Sancho's effort that was repelled by Navas. Favre will be pleased with his team. Big 45 minutes to come.

45' WITSEL BOOKED

First yellow of the night.

42' - STATS DON'T LIE

Dortmund have had seven shots to PSG's one so far and they win their first corner but it's cleared by the French side.

39' - DORTMUND IN CONTROL

Just a nudge over five minutes until the break and Dortmund really have been the better side so far. Their defence has held firm and not given Neymar, Mbappe & Co a look in while they've provided the most serious threat of their own going forward. If only they could grab that goal they crave...

36' - HAALAND'S FIRST SHOT IN ANGER

The Norwegian lets fly from the left edge of the box but his ferocious effort is just wide of the near post. He heads wide from inside the box just moments later. Dortmund getting closer.

33' - WHO WILL BLINK FIRST?

We expected goals but so far neither side has quite found the cutting edge. With so much talent on display, though, you feel it's a matter of time before we get a goal.

29' - HAZARD ARRIVES LATE...

But he can't get a good enough header in at the back post. Dortmund pushing for what you assume will be a vital first goal in this tie.

27' - GREAT SAVE NAVAS

This is beautiful football from Dortmund, moving it front to back rapidly and Sancho cuts inside from the left to unleash a curling effort bound for the far post but Navas again denies the Englishman. Dortmund looking very good here.

24' - SANCHO IN BEHIND

Some lovely football from Dortmund releases Sancho in between the centre-back and full-back on the left and his devilish cross almost finds a teammate but Navas does well to cut out the cross.

21' - NEED TO BE NEAT

Both sides are playing at a relentless pace and with a constant press. It means you need to be intricate to create any openings and you have to wonder how long they can keep this up for.

19' - DORTMUND ON TOP

You get the feeling that the pendulum is going to swing a lot tonight. After Dortmund's bright start and then PSG growing into the game, it's the hosts that are now controlling proceedings again. They'll be hoping they can press home their advantage.

15' - RAPID BVB BREAK

This is possibly Dortmund's biggest threat on full display. They break from a PSG corner and Sancho runs the near full length of the pitch but, with men over on either side, he goes alone and drags his shot narrowly wide. A great counter and very nearly the opener.

12' - WELL WIDE FROM GUERREIRO

And now Dortmund have their first shot of the game but it's well wide from their marauding wing back.

10' - EVEN STEVENS

Pretty even stuff so far with both sides showing glimpses of their electric front lines but without any genuine threat - yet. Neymar has the first shot, a free kick that goes wide of Bürki's goal.

8' - PSG WARMING UP

The French champions are starting to get on the ball a bit more now but Dortmund are keeping them well at arm's length. No chances yet.

5' - FAVRE'S FORMULA

It's hard to not get excited by the Dortmund coach's newfound penchant for 3-4-3 with Hakimi and Guerreiro bombing on either side, Witsel and Can controlling the midfield and that front three allowed to express themselves. So far, they've all been involved, setting a ferocious early pace.

2' - BRIGHT START FROM THE HOSTS

Dortmund have flown out the traps early on. Hazard, Sancho and Haaland enjoy some nice interplay and then Hakimi draws an early foul. Encouraging.

1' - KICK-OFF!

We are underway. Strap yourselves in...

FIVE MINUTES TO KICK-OFF!

Time to get comfortable. Get the snacks within reaching distance, we're just five minutes away from the start in Dortmund.

A REPEAT OF HISTORY?

The last time PSG faced a team from Germany, they fell to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich back in 2017. Dortmund would definitely take a repeat of that result in their favour tonight.

THE DORTMUND CLIQUE "CLICKING"

Some more pre-match reading for you comes courtesy of Haaland, who has been speaking to bundesliga.com about his immediate chemistry with the plethora of attacking talent at the club. Will he score tonight? You'd think there's a good chance considering how he's fared so far in black and yellow.

DORTMUND CONFIDENT

And rightly so, considering their recent Bundesliga form (W4, L1) that we mentioned earlier as pointed out by Bürki and Witsel this week.

HALF HOUR COUNTDOWN

Just 30 minutes to go until kick-off. Anyone else buzzing for this one? Can. Not. Wait.

AN EPIC IN STORE

As mentioned earlier, these two have the potential to serve up an absolute classic in Dortmund. And what better backdrop could they ask for than a Champions League night in front of the Yellow Wall? Goosebumps time.

NO REAL SURPRISES

It's a case of 'as you were' for Dortmund, who pick the same XI from the start that made a real pre-PSG statement by despatching Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 at the weekend. That means Favre sticks with the 3-4-3 that has suited them so well in recent weeks and Piszczek captains the side. As for the visitors, Icardi is on the bench and despite talks of injury concerns, Neymar is fit enough to lead the line alongside Mbappe and Di Maria.

PSG TEAM NEWS

Navas - Meunier, Kimpembe, Silva (c), Kurzawa - Veratti, Marquinhos, Gueye -  Mbappe, Neymar, Di Maria
Subs: Rico, Kehrer, Cavani, Icardi, Sarabia, Draxler, Kouassi

DORTMUND TEAM NEWS

Bürki - Piszczek (c) Hummels, Zagadou - Hakimi, Can, Witsel, Guerreiro - Hazard, Haaland, Sancho
Subs: Hitz, Akanji, Dahoud, Schulz, Schmelzer, Reyna, Götze

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Dortmund were superb in emerging from an incredibly tricky group that contained Barcelona, Inter Milan and Slavia Prague to setup another difficult tie against the perennial Ligue 1 champions. As for PSG, they went unbeaten (W5, D1) in a Group A that included Real Madrid, Galatasaray and Club Brugge.

A FAMILIAR FACE

It's worth noting that Lucien Favre's opposite number tonight is someone who knows the Signal Iduna Park fairly well. Thomas Tuchel was in the famous dugout from 2015-17 and won the DFB Cup in his final season with BVB. He actually became the most successful coach in Dortmund history at the time, with an average of 2.09 points per Bundesliga game, until Favre (2.11) raised the bar even higher.

FIVE REASONS WHY DORTMUND WIN TONIGHT...

There are five VERY good reasons why the hosts will secure a famous victory this evening and, luckily for you, we've outlined them right here.

CAN SIGNS!

A bit of developing news ahead of kick-off: Dortmund have announced the permanent signing of Emre Can from Juventus this evening. The Germany international joined in January on an initial loan deal but the club have now swooped to his signature. The former Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen man has featured twice for Dortmund this far and scored in THAT thrilling 4-3 defeat to old club Leverkusen on Matchday 21.

TEEN PRODIGIES

At the tip of the Dortmund attack, and central to their recent good form has been their teenage duo of Haaland and Sancho. The former has scored eight times in just five matches since joining in January and struck eight times in six UCL group games earlier this season for former club Red Bull Salzburg. Meanwhile, Sancho is the only player in Europe's top five leagues with double figures for both assists (13) and goals (14). He has scored 10 goals and laid on eight assists in his last 11 Bundesliga matches. No wonder Neymar described the Englishman as a "special player."

ATTACK THE BEST FORM OF DEFENCE?

Sancho, Haaland, Hazard on one side; Neymar, Mbappe and Icardi on the other? Yes, please. Some serious talent will be on display tonight, whoever gets the nod from both coaches and you can expect the defences to be in for a tricky night. Dortmund have scored a whopping 22 goals in their last five Bundesliga matches (W4, L1), while PSG have scored 17 in the same time (W4, D1).

WELCOME TO OUR DORTMUND-PSG LIVE BLOG!

A very good evening and welcome along to our live coverage of the first leg of the UEFA Champions League last 16 tie between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint Germain. One thing is (surely!) for certain, is that this one should have goals...