Borussia Dortmund Stun Atlético Madrid with Late Comeback in Champions League Thriller

Borussia Dortmund staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Atlético Madrid 4-2 in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie, advancing to the semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate victory. The match, played at Signal Iduna Park on April 16, 2024, saw Dortmund overcome a first-leg deficit and score two late goals to secure their place in the final four.

Dortmund took control of the game early on, with Julian Brandt and Ian Maatsen scoring quick-fire goals to put the hosts ahead. However, the introduction of Ángel Correa at halftime sparked a comeback for Atlético, with Mario Hermoso and Correa himself scoring to put the visitors ahead in the tie. But Dortmund fought back, with Niklas Füllkrug and Marcel Sabitzer scoring to secure a thrilling 4-2 win for the German side.

Why this matters: The result marks a significant achievement for Borussia Dortmund, who have not reached the Champions League semi-finals since 2013. The dramatic comeback also highlights the unpredictable nature of the competition and the importance of resilience in high-stakes matches.

The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams taking the lead at different points. Dortmund's chief executive, Hans-Joachim Watzke, described it as a "great evening" for the club. The victory stretched Dortmund's unbeaten home run in the Champions League to 10 games, and they will now face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.

Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone was left in disbelief as his team's defensive resilience and organization unraveled in the face of Dortmund's attacking onslaught. Simeone blamed his team's elimination on wasted opportunities from the first leg, lamenting that Atlético could have won the tie 6-4 if they had been more clinical.

Dortmund's comeback was sealed by two world-class finishes in the final 20 minutes, with Sabitzer setting up Füllkrug before scoring the winner himself. The Austrian midfielder's late contributions proved decisive in sending Dortmund through to the semi-finals, where they will look to reach their first Champions League final since 2013.

Key Takeaways

• Borussia Dortmund defeated Atlético Madrid 4-2 (5-4 agg) to reach CL semi-finals.
• Dortmund overcame a first-leg deficit with a remarkable comeback at home.
• Dortmund will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals.
• Atlético manager Simeone blamed his team's elimination on wasted opportunities in the first leg.
• Dortmund's comeback was sealed by two late goals from Füllkrug and Sabitzer.