Champions League: BVB scores in Copenhagen, Benfica overtakes PSG

Zakaria’s Chelsea debut with a goal

Harmless at the front, shaky at the back – Borussia Dortmund gave a mixed performance at the end of the Champions League group stage. Feeling that they had qualified for the round of 16 a week ago, coach Edin Terzic’s team took it easy at 1-1 (1-1) at FC Copenhagen. Without Jude Bellingham, who was completely rested, there was a lack of penetrating power and defensive stability on Wednesday. In front of 31,900 spectators in the Parken Stadium, Hákon Haraldsson (41st) scored the deserved draw for the bottom of the table. Even the interim lead by Thorgan Hazard (23rd) did not give BVB any security.

BVB got off to a superior start, but were always prone to making mistakes. Like last time, coach Edin Terzic’s team needed the help of Gregor Kobel in goal. All the more bitter for the Westphalians that the 24-year-old was probably substituted at half-time. At first, however, he played well as usual: Kobel parried a header from Roony Bardghji (9′), then a shot from the Icelandic center forward Haraldsson (12′). Hazard, who had recently been deployed at full-back, was there after his cross and put the ball in the goal. It was BVB’s first real chance and actually this goal should have given security. But only actually. Because instead of wanting to add more, BVB started to wobble again. Kobel was able to save once against Viktor Claesson (29th). A few minutes later the Swiss was powerless. Copenhagen used one of Dortmund’s many ball losses during build-up play to counterattack, which Haraldsson (41′) skillfully completed with a shot into the far corner. This saved the Danish champions the shame of being the fourth team in Champions League history after Deportivo La Coruna (2004/05), Maccabi Haifa (2009/10) and Dinamo Zagreb (2016/17) without a goal in the first round.

12:3 shots on goal in favor of the bottom of the table reflected the weak performance of Dortmund in the first half. It didn’t get much better after the break either. Donyell Malen (53′) initially had a huge chance to take the lead, but after assisting Karim Adeyemi the Dutchman didn’t even get the ball on goal from a great position. Then the usual picture: sometimes a bad pass from Nico Schlotterbeck, sometimes a blunder from Emre Can or others – the Danes were invited again and again. Only when Moukoko and Brandt came on in the 63rd minute did BVB get better, at least offensively. Barely on the pitch, attacker Moukoko hit the post with a long-range shot. Brandt now boosted almost every attack. BVB was no longer really mandatory. In the 90th minute, Rasmus Falk even missed Copenhagen’s huge chance.

Benfica overtake PSG and celebrate group victory

In Group H, Benfica upset Maccabi Haifa in the closing minutes. Because the Portuguese won 6-1 and thus scored more away goals than Paris Saint-Germain in the group stage, they overtook the French and celebrated the group victory. The direct duels against each other ended 1:1. Meanwhile, PSG drew 2-1 at Juventus Turin.

AC Milan beat RB Salzburg 4-0, Chelsea beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 with a goal from debutant Denis Zakaria and Manchester City beat Sevilla 3-1.

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