On February 18, in the first leg of the Champions League, Dortmund and Eindhoven battled each other, and the smoke of gunpowder was filled with fire. The two sides went back and forth, and finally shook hands 1-1, laying the suspense for the next life-and-death battle. This scorching battle also shows the difficult journey of the Bundesliga top three against the European giants.
Borussia Dortmund's performance was really exciting, and the away game showed a strong fighting spirit. They pressed early, had a lot of chances, and eventually managed to score and lead their opponents. It was a stunning goal as Malen forced his way into the box and hit the inside of the post from a tight angle, a magnificent goal that put Dortmund 1-0 up and PSV Eindhoven in trouble.
However, on the Champions League stage, victory is never easy. PSV Eindhoven rallied back after conceding a goal and put Dortmund under intense pressure. At the crucial moment, Hummels committed a foul in the box and awarded a penalty for the opponent. Standing at 12 yards, Luc de Jong was under intense pressure, but he fired a low shot into the back of the net to level the scores. A 1-1 draw meant the two sides were back to square one, and the next leg was a 0-0 restart.
Back at home, Dortmund have no way back, and they will have to win their opponents to advance to the quarter-finals. PSV Eindhoven, on the other hand, will be keen to knock out their opponents with a victory. It's a do-or-die battle that will determine who can continue on their Champions League journey.
Judging from the first leg, Dortmund has a slight advantage. Their positive performance on the road, combined with home advantage in the next leg, make them favourites to advance. In the top three of the Bundesliga, Leipzig and Bayern lost to Real Madrid and Lazio respectively last week, and the first leg of the Champions League played in the top three of the Bundesliga, but won 0. This makes Dortmund even more the only seed in the Bundesliga in the quarter-finals.
At this crucial moment in the Champions League, Bayern are in crisis, they are considering whether to change the manager, and the Bundesliga table has also been opened up by Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern's form is not good, even Bochum has lost, and it may be even more difficult to counterattack in the next game. Only one team in the Bundesliga may end up making it to the quarter-finals, with Borussia Dortmund emerging as the most likely team due to their excellent performances and relatively good form.
This Champions League game is full of uncertainties, but Dortmund shines on this stage with strength and fighting spirit. In the pinnacle of football, they will bring glory to the Bundesliga and give the fans a wonderful game. It's not just a team battle, it's a battle for the dignity of the Bundesliga. Looking forward to the next home game, Dortmund can beat PSV Eindhoven and add another luster to German football. In this exciting journey of the Champions League, we will always accompany the fans to witness this passionate football epic.