PSG's Champions League Hopes Alive Despite Dortmund Defeat

Paris Saint-Germain's hopes of reaching the Champions League final remain alive despite a 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their semi-final tie. Coach Luis Enrique expressed optimism, stating that the game was evenly matched and that PSG has a strong chance of overturning the deficit in the second leg.

PSG dominated possession and created more scoring opportunities, but their finishing let them down. Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi both hit the woodwork in the second half, highlighting their misfortune. Enrique acknowledged the difficulty of the semi-finals but emphasized that his team has the quality to advance.

"We had one chance where we hit both posts," Enrique said. "You have to say this is an exceptional stadium, but I am sure we will be very strong in Paris and we have nothing to lose."

PSG's only other defeat this season came in the Coupe de France, and it is the first time they have failed to score under Enrique. However, they have a history of overcoming first-leg deficits in the Champions League, having knocked out Barcelona in the quarter-finals and Dortmund in the last 16 in previous seasons.

Captain Marquinhos echoed Enrique's confidence, stating that PSG will need to convert their chances in the second leg. "We had lots of good chances, especially in the second half, clear chances that we can't afford to miss if we want to get to the final," he said.

Meanwhile, Enrique expressed concern over the injury to defender Lucas Hernandez, who was forced off in the first half. "It doesn't look at all positive," he said.

Tags: #PSG, #Dortmund, #ChampionsLeague, #SemiFinal, #LuisEnrique