Borussia Dortmund managed a 0-0 draw against Manchester City on Tuesday, thanks in large part to Gregor Kobel's heroics. By saving a penalty from Riyad Mahrez, Kobel helped his team clinch a place in the Champions League last 16. The penalty occurred in the 56th minute after Emre Can tripped Mahrez, but the Swiss goalkeeper's quick reflexes stopped the shot, marking the seventh time in nine years that Dortmund has reached the knockout phase.
Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel’s penalty save from Riyad Mahrez helped his side to finish a goalless draw with Manchester City on Tuesday. The result has helped Dortmund to qualify for the Champions League last 16. Manchester City was awarded a penalty kick when Mahrez was brought down by Emre Can in the 56th minute. But Kobel stood strong to push away the Algerian winger’s effort from the spot and guided his side through to the knockout stage for the seventh time in nine years.
Manchester City leads Group G by three points and has secured first place in the group, aided by their superior record in direct matchups with Dortmund.
Knowing his team had already qualified, Pep Guardiola rested several stars, including Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, and Ederson. This allowed Stefan Ortega to make his debut in goal. Erling Haaland started the game but struggled to find clear openings; he was substituted at halftime to ensure he is rested for the upcoming fixture against Leicester City.
Dortmund only required a point to advance following Sevilla's 3-0 thrashing by FC Copenhagen. While young talents Karim Adeyemi and Youssoufa Moukoko created several scoring opportunities in the first half, it was Manchester City who came closest to breaking the deadlock.
Filling in for the suspended Salih Ozcan, former Liverpool man Emre Can struggled to keep up with City's quick counter-attacks, eventually conceding a penalty. Although Mahrez hit the ball cleanly, Kobel managed to get a strong hand to it, keeping the scoreline blank.
As the match wound down, both teams seemed happy to settle for a draw, a result that knocked out both Copenhagen and Sevilla. Looking ahead to the final Group G fixtures, Dortmund will head to Copenhagen, while City will welcome Sevilla to their home stadium.
Over in Group H, Paris Saint-Germain stormed into the round of 16 with a crushing 7-2 victory over Maccabi Haifa at the Parc des Princes. The offensive onslaught was led by Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, who both bagged two goals, with Neymar and Carlos Soler adding one each. This win means PSG has qualified with a match to spare. While they currently sit on 11 points—the same as Benfica—their superior goal difference gives them a significant advantage. Their final group stage test will be an away trip to Juventus.
PSG clinched its place in the Champions League knockout stage with a game to spare. The German team is level on 11 points with qualified Benfica but now has a comfortable edge on goal difference. PSG will travel to Juventus for the final group game.