PSG draws 1-1 vs. Borussia Dortmund, punches UCL Round of 16 ticket

Paris Saint-Germain managed a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday, securing their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League staged to take place in 2024.

This marks PSG's twelfth consecutive appearance in the final phase of the Champions League, a tradition that started with the arrival of QSI and Qatar in the French capital.

The match, characterized by numerous missed opportunities and a lack of offensive efficiency by the Parisian, saw both teams struggling to capitalize on their chances.

The first goal of the match was scored by Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi in the 51st minute, putting the home team ahead and PSG in very real danger of getting eliminated from the competition.

However, PSG responded quickly with Warren Zaire-Emery scoring the equalizer just five minutes later, making him the youngest French scorer in Champions League history at a ridiculously young 17 years and 280 days of age.

Despite several close calls and impressive saves by both goalkeepers, the match ended in a stalemate, enough for both sides to earn a place in the next stage of the UCL.

Gianluigi Donnarumma of PSG made crucial saves against Marco Reus and others, while Dortmund's goalkeeper Gregor Kobel also showcased his skills with significant stops, both of them contributing to the final 1-1 draw in Germany.

The result, combined with AC Milan's come-from-behind win (2-1) over Newcastle, ensured that PSG finished second in their group above the Italian and the English sides in that order.

Luis Enrique, even without Goncalo Ramos available, lined PSG up in his usual 4-3-3 formation. Dortmund, under the guidance of coach Edin Terzic, also opted for that 4-3-3 setup, which probably contributed to the balanced outcome.

The match highlighted the competitive nature of the Champions League and set the stage for PSG's continued pursuit of European glory, although it's worth pointing out that both teams knew the draw would put them through the group stage, so they simply had to pact it and let time go for both to try and meet again in 2024.