The Group of Death is usually the group with most attention in the UEFA Champions League, and this season’s competition saw German Bundesliga 1’s Borussia Dortmund, Italian Serie A’s AC Milan, French Ligue 1’s Paris Saint-Germain and English Premier League’s Newcastle United being placed into Group F. On the paper, it was more likely that seven-time European Cup / Champions League winners Milan and 11-time French champions PSG will progress to the knockout round of the competition, but the reality said otherwise, since Borussia Dortmund became the first team to qualify for the next phase with their victory over the Italian giants last night.
Borussia Dortmund Overcame Milan at San Siro with Ease
Borussia Dortmund visited the famous San Siro Stadium for a Matchday 5 encounter versus Milan in the European club football competition, and they cannot ask for a better start than yesterday’s clash, since Marco Reus opened the scoring from the spot as early as the 10th minute. Unlike Olivier Giroud who missed his chance to put the home team ahead earlier in the game from 12 yards, the 34-year-old German international Reus managed to convert his penalty despite the goalkeeper Mike Maignan making the right guess.
With eight minutes remaining in the first half’s normal playing time, Samuel Chukwueze equalised for his club via a fantastic effort. The 24-year-old Nigerian first received the ball at the right flank, before he beat past a couple of Borussia Dortmund players and fired the ball to the far post from a difficult angle for his first goal of the 2023/2024 Season. The score line remained tied up until around the hour mark.
Notwithstanding by the pressure given by the home team and their fans, Borussia Dortmund scored twice in 11 minutes in the second half, thanks to strikes from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and substitute Karim Adeyemi. The former restored the visitors’ lead in superb fashion by completing a team play that involved six players during the process, whereas the replacement Adeyemi, who came on for Donyell Malen in the 55th minute, was benefited by Milan’s chaotic backline for his goal. The young German winger composed himself just before the penalty box, followed by a solid effort that Maignan managed to get a touch of, but to no avail. Borussia Dortmund won the game with a convincing 3-1 score line.
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Which Team Will Join Borussia Dortmund in the Last 16?
The 3-1 victory over Milan at San Siro was Borussia Dortmund’s third straight win in the UEFA Champions League, allowing them to collect 10 points out of a possible 15 in their first five group matches to qualify for the Last 16 of the competition. The Black and Yellows needed to thank Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle for their successful qualification to the next round, since both side played out a 1-1 draw at Parc des Princes in the other Group of Death fixture.
With Borussia Dortmund now into the following phase of the UEFA Champions League, attentions will be given to the remaining qualifier from Group F. The current standings have PSG next in line at 7 points, while Milan and Magpies each accumulated five points over five Matchdays. The final group game of this season’s top-tiered European club football competition will return in a fortnight’s time for these teams, where the final spot to qualify for the Round of 16 from this Group of Death will be announced.
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With Dortmund already qualified, the group of death remains wide open going into the final game of the group! 👀
• PSG
• Newcastle
• AC MilanOnly one can join the German side in the final 16, who will it be? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/6qtY5gUVmR
— 90min (@90min_Football) November 28, 2023
What Are the Unmissable Champions League Matches Tonight?
Galatasaray S.K. vs Manchester United at RAMS Park and Arsenal against RC Lens are the headlined matches in tonight’s Champions League fixture, as the Red Devils must perform well to keep their Last 16 qualification hopes alive, whereas the Gunners require only a single point to book their places in the knockout round of the tournament. The rest of the six fixtures will see Sevilla FC take on PSV, Bayern Munich host F.C. Copenhagen, Real Madrid play SSC Napoli, Real Sociedad versus FC Red Bull Salzburg, S.C. Braga against 1. FC Union Berlin and S.L. Benfica clash with Inter Milan.
Make sure you stay tuned to OtherLeague.com for the latest happenings in the UEFA Champions League as well as other major sports competitions in the world!
