Borussia Dortmund secured their spot in the Champions League semi-finals after an impressive comeback against Atletico Madrid, winning 5-4 on aggregate.
After losing the first leg 2-1 in Madrid, Dortmund quickly turned the tide in their favor with goals from Julian Brandt and Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen in the first half.
However, Atletico Madrid equalized the scoreline, making it 2-1 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate, when Mario Hermoso’s header deflected off Dortmund defender Mats Hummels shortly after the restart.
In the 64th minute, Angel Correa gave Atletico Madrid a 4-3 aggregate lead with a powerful finish from close range.
Nevertheless, Dortmund showed their resilience and leveled the score once again in an exhilarating second half. Niclas Fullkrug sealed the equalizer with a looping header, capitalizing on Marcel Sabitzer’s cross after 71 minutes.
Just moments later, Sabitzer himself became the hero by netting Dortmund’s winning goal with a drilled finish into the bottom corner. This remarkable victory sets up a thrilling semi-final clash against Paris St-Germain.
Dortmund had not made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League since they were runners-up in the 2012-13 season. This marks only the fourth occasion that the German club has progressed past the quarter-finals.
Their recent success is particularly impressive, given that they were trailing 2-0 in the first leg in Madrid and seemed to be out of contention at halftime. Despite a strong start and a near miss by Sabitzer, who had his shot blocked by Azpilicueta, Atletico also had their chances, with Morata missing an early opportunity.
Correa later widened the gap, giving his team a 3-2 aggregate lead. However, it was Dortmund who finished on a high note, with Oblak making crucial saves to deny Fullkrug and Sabitzer.
This defeat marks the first time Atletico has conceded four goals in a Champions League knockout match since their 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the 2014 final. Simeone’s team has now gone seven years without making it to the final four of Europe’s top competition.