Champions League: Borussia Dortmund’s Hopes Dashed in Final Match

omidbasir- As the league phase of this season’s Champions League concluded on Wednesday night, Borussia Dortmund found themselves in a challenging position in their quest to qualify for the round of 16 by securing a top-eight finish.

Entering the match two points behind eighth-placed Chelsea, BVB needed a victory and favorable outcomes elsewhere to achieve a goal that had seemed within reach just two matchdays prior. They faced Inter Milan, who were five points ahead at the top of Serie A, and equally required a Champions League win as they made their way to the Ruhrgebiet.

Niko Kovač made two adjustments to the lineup that had triumphed over Union Berlin during the weekend, introducing Ramy Bensebaini and Filippo Mané to replace the suspended Daniel Svensson and Waldemar Anton, who was sidelined due to illness. An hour before kickoff, Dortmund received a slight morale boost as Serie A top scorer Lautaro Martínez was announced as a substitute for the 2010 winners.

Dortmund started the game with enthusiasm and had an excellent chance to take the lead within the first 10 minutes. After a corner kick was cleared to Julian Ryerson, the Norwegian sent the ball back into the penalty area where it fell to Serhou Guirassy. However, the Guinean, off balance while attempting to shoot, failed to test Inter’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

The visitors gradually settled into the match, generating a couple of half-chances, notably through Yann Bisseck. Inter forward Ange-Yoan Bonny also had a promising opportunity after Luís Henrique skillfully bypassed Bensebaini and delivered a cross that forced an awkward save from Gregor Kobel.

Aside from a concerning incident for Inter defender Francesco Acerbi, who dislocated his finger midway through the first half, the opening period produced little excitement, providing minimal testing for the two Swiss goalkeepers.

The second half mirrored the first, with neither side creating significant chances until the 63rd minute, when young forward Francesco Esposito was through on goal for Inter but was denied by a remarkable tackle from Ramy Bensebaini.

As the match progressed, it became increasingly apparent that Borussia Dortmund’s hopes for a top-eight finish were fading, even with a victory. Inter, however, were just a point behind Paris Saint-Germain, the team occupying the coveted eighth position. A goal from Inter would secure their advancement.

Following a foul by Felix Nmecha on Federico Dimarco, Inter earned a free kick in a dangerous position. Dimarco took the free kick himself, expertly finding the back of the net and temporarily sending Cristian Chivu’s team into the last 16.

In a desperate attempt for an equalizer, Dortmund conceded a second goal in the dying moments, courtesy of a stunning strike from Andy Diouf, which sealed the three points for Inter and condemned Dortmund to a disappointing 17th-place finish.

This frustrating outcome means that Die Schwarzgelben will now face a two-legged play-off tie to secure a place in the last 16, with the second leg being played away from home. For Inter, despite the victory, results elsewhere ultimately relegated them to 10th place.