On 1 June, Julian Ryerson can become the sixth Norwegian to play in the Champions League final. He joins the ranks of Erling Braut Haaland, John Arne Riise, John Carew, Ronny Johnsen and Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
– The single most difficult task any Norwegian player has had, said the national team’s TV 2 expert, Brede Hangeland, before meetings with Mbappe.
But Ryerson was in good control of the direct duel with Kylian Mbappé until the French world star was moved forward as a forward in PSG’s desperation after Dortmund took the lead.
Mbappe hit the crossbar five minutes before the end. Immediately afterwards, Vitinha repeated the same. The ball went through the Dortmund goalkeeper and into the underside of the crossbar.
PSG incredibly had six balls in the metal in two semi-finals, but did not score or the Champions League final. Sensationally enough, the final place goes to the club in 5th place in the Bundesliga.
– I feel for PSG, Hangeland said right after the end of the match and thought Dortmund did an “organisational masterpiece”. Ryerson helped to neutralize Mbappe before he had to go out towards the end.
At Wembley on the first day of June, Borussia Dortmund will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. After 2-2 in the first game, they settle for the final place in Spain on Wednesday evening.
Right after the break, the decision from Borussia Dortmund’s veteran stopper came down.
0–1: Julian Brandt’s corner towards the back post sailed over all PSG heads. And there Mats Hummels was strangely alone. The 35-year-old headed Dortmund into the lead, while PSG stopper Lucas Beraldo found himself in the middle of everything. In no man’s land.
Then Nuno Mendes swept the ball into the post for PSG. Of course.
The pressure built up against Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic chose victims of his most creative and strong on the counter, Jadon Sancho and Karim Adeyemi. Niklas Süle (195 cm and 99 kg) entered together with the very experienced Marco Reus.
Thus, both of the remaining players from the Champions League final 11 years ago, Hummels and Reus, were on the pitch.
A quarter of an hour before the end, Hummels put the ball in the goal once more. He was called off for offside. But he Dortmund’s center showed who had the grip on the big event.
The 26-year-old from Lyngdal did not suffer from any Mbappe stress in the first half. The French favorite pulled once past on the inside, and once on the outside of Ryerson.
But in fact the Norwegian full-back was closer to scoring before the break. Ryerson combined directly from the throw-in smartly with striker Niclas Füllkrug. The Norwegian’s shot from an acute angle slammed into the outside of the net wall.
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma really had to work once before the break. Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi turned on the turbo in a counterattack. Only Donnarumma’s left glove came between the 22-year-old and the game’s first goal.
PSG rarely got into gear against the defensive block from the Ruhr. Mbappe set up the biggest chance when he crossed to the opposite flank of Ryerson. PSG’s Fabián Ruiz had a huge hit, but there was Nico Slotterbeck with a precise block.
At halftime, Borussia Dortmund were still in the Champions League final. Thanks to Füllkrug’s 1-0 goal in the home game six days ago.
PSG pulled away from the start in the 2nd half. Ryerson cleared away the first chance. But Dortmund had to have help from the post when Warren Zaire Emery got the chance straight afterwards. The 18-year-old was close to becoming a hero.
The posts became PSG’s destiny.
It was the stage for Mats Hummels on the opposite side.
