Borussia Dortmund succumb to Paris Saint-Germain with Mbappé and Hakimi on target in Champions League opener

Borussia Dortmund suffered defeat in their UEFA Champions League Group F opener against a PSG side that had Kylian Mbappé and former BVB man Achraf Hakimi on the scoresheet.

PSG 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 1-0 Mbappé (pen.) 49′, 2-0 Hakimi 58′ (assist: Vitinha) 

Dortmund had been failing to fire on all cylinders at the start of the Bundesliga season, but a 4-2 win against Freiburg at the weekend raised morale before the Black-and-Yellows’ trip to face the 2020 Champions League runners-up. Mats Hummels was on target twice in the aforementioned win and the veteran defender went close in the French capital with a header from Julian Brandt’s corner that flashed over. After Marcel Sabitzer limped out of the contest with an injury, Donyell Malen tested Gianluigi Donnarumma with a shot the keeper was equal to. Enduring their own domestic woes of late, Luis Enrique’s side looked to respond in this Group F opener and they struck the woodwork following a wonderful Vitinha effort from the edge of the area. Randal Kolo Muani – the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt forward a familiar face to Bundesliga fans – subsequently brought a stop from BVB’s Gregor Kobel as the hosts continued to probe for an opening goal. 

Having put in a solid shift in the opening 45 minutes, BVB emerged after the break with the aim of being just as difficult to break down in the second half. Unfortunately for the visitors, when Niklas Süle handled in the area soon after the restart, Mbappé was on hand to send the penalty kick past Kobel. Indeed, there was to be no respite for the away side, who were soon two goals behind after Hakimi – who made 73 appearances while on loan at BVB between 2018 and 2020 – finished in style after combining with Vitinha. Die Schwarzgelben looked to respond and they came agonisingly close to pulling a goal back when substitute Jamie Bynoe-Gittens struck the outside of the post. That was the best it would get for the Bundesliga side, however, and they must now regroup for their next game in the section at home to AC Milan on 4 October.