Champions League - "God's straddle" to win the group: Dortmund celebrates Süle
Celebrated like a goalscorer, acclaimed like a match winner - at the end of a fantastic evening of soccer, Niklas Süle enjoyed the limelight after a long time as a high-class reserve.
Although the Dortmund international did not score in the 1:1 (0:0) Champions League draw against Paris Saint-Germain, he thrilled the crowd with a sensational save. Again and again, the TV pundits marveled at his save, which was celebrated as" God'ssave " by the German newspaper "Bild".
Süle himself also seemed mightily impressed: "I managed to get my foot up with some kind of reflex. That looks spectacular, of course." After watching the DAZN images, he added with a grin: "You can all look at my crotch a bit."
PSG prevented from taking an early lead
When Kylian Mbappé only had to push the ball into the empty goal from an acute angle during the festival of chances in the 18th minute, the superstar was in for a nasty surprise. With an iconic monster save just before the goal line, in which he artistically pulled his leg up, Süle deflected the ball out of play and prevented his team from going 1-0 down early on. The stunned look on the French attacker's face revealed more than words.
"Niklas was outstanding in that situation. These are the moments that the team needs to stay in the game and give themselves confidence and strength," enthused sporting director Sebastian Kehl, full of joy at the victory in the hammer group F ahead of the star ensemble from Paris, who were considered co-favorites for the title. Coach Edin Terzic was similarly euphoric about the 28-year-old's save, who has often had to cede his hoped-for regular place in BVB's central defense to Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck: "A world-class save. That feels like a goal for us."
High entertainment value
Süle was not the only one to contribute to the high entertainment value of the match. Unlike in the Bundesliga, BVB played like Borussia Dortmund again in the top flight - with a lot of courage, power and risk. To the delight of the spectators, tactics and passion matched the team's DNA this time. Goalscorer Karim Adeyemi (51) also turned on the heat: Only rarely has the fast, but recently often fickle attacker contested so many duels and put in so many sprints as he did on Wednesday.
Terzic made no secret of his pride: "The fact that we finished top of the table in this group is an outstanding success for us. It gives us self-confidence - and a hunger for more." As top of the table, Dortmund can hope for an easier opponent in the draw on Monday and can play the second leg at home. Possible opponents include FC Copenhagen, PSV Eindhoven, SSC Napoli, Inter Milan, Lazio Roma and FC Porto.
Kehl and Terzic visibly relieved
Like Terzic, sporting director Kehl also appeared visibly relieved after the criticism of recent weeks. "Hopefully that will give us a bit of peace." However, a lot will depend on whether things pick up again in the Bundesliga after just one win in six games and a drop to sixth place.
"We have to show this performance every three days, regardless of the competition and the day of the week," demanded Terzic with a view to the two upcoming games in Augsburg and against Mainz before the winter break. The coach considered the question of BVB's preferred opponent in the round of 16 of the premier class to be of secondary importance: "Our preferred opponent is FC Augsburg on Saturday."
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Source: www.stern.de
