DORTMUND – Borussia Dortmund are relishing a rematch with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals, after knocking out Atletico Madrid 4-2 in a thrilling second-leg tie on April 16 to set up a meeting with the French side they played in the group stage.

The German outfit overturned a 2-1 deficit from their quarter-final, first leg and will now renew their acquaintance with PSG, who beat Barcelona 6-4 on aggregate to book their last-four berth.

Dortmund coach Edin Terzic feels his side, who won the Champions League in 1997, are now better prepared to face the French champions, after they lost 2-0 away and drew 1-1 at home in the group stage.

“Our first game against them wasn’t good. In the second game, we adjusted to them better and were closer to victory. I think we’re a better team today than we were against them in the group stage,” he said.

Midfielder Julian Brandt, who opened the scoring in the first half for Dortmund, could scarcely believe that his side had made it through to the last four after taking a two-goal lead, conceding two goals, and then scoring twice more.

After Brandt’s goal, Ian Maatsen drilled a perfectly placed shot in at the foot of the far post to make it 2-0.

Dortmund defender Mats Hummels then turned the ball into his own net in the 49th minute, and substitute Angel Correa made it 2-2 for Atletico on the night in the 64th minute.

At this point, the Spanish side had a 4-3 aggregate lead at Signal Iduna Park.

However, the home side struck back and striker Niclas Fullkrug made it 4-4 over the two legs with a brilliant glancing header from Marcel Sabitzer’s cross in the 71st minute.

Dortmund fans had barely retaken their seats when Sabitzer popped up on the edge of the box, steadying himself with an excellent first touch before drilling home the winner in front of an ecstatic crowd three minutes later.

“It was a crazy game for the fans and for us. A great game for all football fans around the world,” said Brandt.

“It’s going to be very serious now against Paris. We played well against them at home in the group stage, but not well away. We want to do better now and, of course, reach the final.”

Atletico coach Diego Simeone blamed his side for not being determined enough.

“The goals speak for themselves. We did not have forcefulness and, if we had it, we would have won,” he said.

“We could have won with more advantage in the first leg and today, if fortune had been on our side, we could have done something more.” REUTERS, AFP