With Borussia Dortmund already made it to the next round of the Champions League, it was interesting to see who are the other Last 16 team from the Group of Death, and Warren Zaïre-Emery from Paris Saint-Germain were able to ensure that his French Ligue 1 side will be joining their German counterparts in the next phase of the competition. The 17-year-old French midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery helped PSG to come back from a 1-0 deficit to secure a hard fought 1-1 draw against the already-qualified Dortmund in their final Group of Death fixture at Signal Iduna Park, booking their tickets in the Round of 16 as the Group F runners-up.
Warren Zaïre-Emery Netted the All-Important Equaliser for PSG
Dortmund made four changes in their first 11 that were defeated by RB Leipzig 3-2 in the German Bundesliga 1 last time around, whereas Luis Enrique’s squad, who triumphed against FC Nantes 2-1 at Parc des Princes, also made the same number of replacements in their starting lineup in this crucial European club football match, including the return of Warren Zaïre-Emery to the initial squad.
After a goalless first half, the home side Dortmund drew the first blood of this Group of Death fixture, thanks to an effort from Karim Adeyemi. A poor pass at PSG’s own half was intercepted by Mats Hummels and the ball ricocheted to Nicolas Füllkrug. The 30-year-old veteran striker then pulled the ball back and squared it for his strike partner Adeyemi to break the deadlock. It is worth mentioning that the goal was only his first in 14 appearances in all competitions for the Black and Yellows in 2023/2024.
Should Adeyemi’s goal stay till the final whistle, Paris Saint-Germain would have been eliminated from the next phase of the competition, but Warren Zaïre-Emery had other ideas for the French side. Not long after Dortmund’s breakthrough, PSG stopped a dangerous attack by the home side and several players, including Lucas Hernández, Lee Kang-in, Kylian Mbappé and the teenage wonder Warren Zaïre-Emery, combined for a devastating counter, with the 24-year-old France captain delivering a cross at the end. Mbappé’s passed took a deflection, but Warren Zaïre-Emery was there to pick the ball up and fire it into the back of the net just inside the penalty box.
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PSG Joined Dortmund in the UCL Last 16
Warren Zaïre-Emery‘s equaliser gave PSG a priceless point out of their final Group F fixture, meaning they have accumulated a total of 8 points during the process. Since Dortmund already booked their places in the next round of the Champions League, and that AC Milan did not manage to improve their goal difference significantly despite their win against Newcastle United in the other Group of Death matchup, PSG will join the German outfit in the Last 16.
I Rossoneri, who levelled on points with PSG in Group F, will be playing in the UEFA Europa League next following an inferior goal difference as compared to the French champions, while Magpies became the second side from the English Premier League to be eliminated from any European club football competitions this season, with the other being three-time European Cup / UEFA Champions League winners Manchester United, who finished Group A with only one win in six matches.
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The #UCL last 16 is set ✅
Who will lift the trophy this season? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/WzAmGzisIH
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 13, 2023
