PSV and Borussia Dortmund drew 1-1 on Tuesday evening. Both teams were evenly matched in the first leg, but PSV will be most disappointed by the draw. The Eindhoven team missed many opportunities in the first half and the team will miss home advantage in Dortmund in three weeks. Nevertheless, PSV will travel to Germany in good spirits.
Fifteen minutes into the match, PSV had perhaps the biggest chance of the match. Malik Tillman received the ball from Luuk de Jong via a nice bounce and was able to make his way to the goal. The midfielder simply forgot to keep going and shot wide too hastily.
It largely became the story of the match, as is often mentioned in the competition. PSV may score the most in the competition, but many opportunities are missed. Former PSV player Donyell Malen does not do that. The first chance for Borussia Dortmund was an immediate hit: 0-1.
Gift
PSV was able to compete well with the German top club and was even the better side at times. Yet it faced that backlog. Johan Bakayoko also had a great chance to equalize, but the Belgian could not control the ball.
There was hardly any difference in quality in football, despite the fact that the value of Dortmund’s selection is many times greater. But looking at the completion of the opportunities, a difference in quality was definitely visible. Yet PSV received a gift ten minutes after the break. Tillman was knocked down slightly by Mats Hummels, after which the Eindhoven team received a penalty. Luuk de Jong stood behind the ball and did not fail: 1-1.
Equivalent
For PSV, the match against Borussia Dortmund was the biggest match since 2016 when it was last in the eighth finals of the Champions League. That tension was palpable in the stadium where there was a wonderful atmosphere.
Despite the tension, the match came to a close. Both teams did not dare to push ahead with a view to the return in three weeks. A draw was the end result, meaning all cards are still on the table. PSV was certainly not the worse team on Tuesday evening, but they will have to make do without home advantage in three weeks.
One thing is certain. The return in Germany will be an exciting one. Because these two teams are very evenly matched and will together determine who will go to the quarter-finals on March 13.