When the floodlights shine, the iconic strains of Tony Britten's anthem play and the absolute certainty that only one of the two teams will be able to survive the evening fills the stands, then the heroes are born on the sacred turf. These are the stories that are passed down from football fan to football fan for generations.
Only the Champions League offers such memorable evenings. The queen category of the best, where, especially in the knockout second legs, often only individual moments decide between victory and defeat, between drama and glory and between heroes and tragic heroes.
Dortmund beats Atlético and is in the Champions League semi-finals
The Westfalenstadion in Dortmund experienced another night like this. Borussia Dortmund won 4-2 in the second leg of the quarterfinals against Atlético de Madrid, turning around the 1-2 defeat in the first leg. BVB is in the semi-finals of the world's most important club competition for the first time since 2013.
The game is a spectacle, the stadium is a madhouse. Even before the start you can see a special force in the stands, always dressed in yellow. Every spectator, every Borussia player knows what is possible that night, and coach Edin Terzic also feels the same. “We felt it from the first second we went out to warm up today,” an emotional Terzic said after the match.
Players are pushed non-stop even during informal stretching exercises. The team returns it to him. Julian Brandt (34th) and Ian Maatsen (37th) shoot for BVB in front of 81,356 spectators. deserved 2-0 at half-time . After the break, Borussia suffered two supposed changes of mood: an own goal by Mats Hummels (49th) and the equalizer by Ángel Correa (64th).
Dortmund's south stand creates something magical
On the other hand. When Correa's ball crosses the line, something magical happens in the south stands. The celebration of the people of Madrid evaporated because the frantic fans immediately cheered their team loudly.
The men in black and yellow created three chances immediately after 2-2. Seven minutes after conceding the goal, Niclas Füllkrug returned the magic of the fans and ended his personal goal drought. BVB takes the lead again, the stadium is in ecstasy.
More is not possible? More is possible! three minutes later criticizes Marcel Sabitzer The thing ends beautifully in the net, suddenly Dortmund are ahead again with the two goals they need and are back in the semi-finals.
“It was extraordinary, a rollercoaster,” says general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke, describing his crazy emotional world after the match. “Many congratulations to the team, it was a great evening. Reaching the semi-finals is fantastic for BVB.”
“Nights like this are special”
In the last 20 minutes, every positive action is celebrated like a goal, shouting, cheering and cursing at every controversial scene. People pray, tremble and beg. With the redemptive final whistle, everyone applauds, laughs and cries. Pure emotions.
“Nights like this are special, especially this Champions League season,” says Julian Brandt. “Seeing all these happy faces here at the stadium is pure satisfaction.” It was a “great game for everyone here in the stadium.” Also for Füllkrug: “Today was really magical. “The stadium burned.”
BVB in the Champions League, BVB against Atlético de Madrid. It is the perfect interaction between the team and the fans. Fortunately, a symbiosis. Now PSG can come . For all of Borussia, only one step towards the final in London. The Füllkrug announcement: “Of course, now we also want to go to Wembley.”