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Borussia Dortmund have one foot inside this season’s Champions League final following their 1-0 first-leg win against Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.
While it was German striker Niclas Fullkrug who scored the only goal of the clash at Signal Iduna Park, it was Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho who grabbed the headlines in what was simply a masterclass from him.
Sancho played in a Champions League semi-final for the first time in his career on Wednesday night and he didn’t disappoint.
Undoubtedly Dortmund’s standout performer, he mostly operated from his preferred right side and had to contend with Nuno Mendes, Fabian Ruiz and Bradley Barcola on PSG’s left flank.
Sancho proved to be a constant thorn in the backside of the PSG stars as he constantly turned them inside and out with some fine skills and injections of pace when he needed to.
In just the opening 30 minutes of proceedings at Dortmund’s grounds, Sancho completed an impressive seven take-ons.
To put this achievement into context, he never completed more than seven take-ons in a single game he played for United in the 58 appearances he made for the Red Devils.
Since the start of the 2016/17 season at least, no BVB player has completed more in a single Champions League game. 😲
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 1, 2024
He completed more take-ons vs. Luis Enrique’s men than any Dortmund star has managed in a single Champions League match across the past eight seasons. He’s also the only player across the past eight seasons to complete 10+ take-ons in a Champions League semi-final clash.
Jadon Sancho is the only player across the past eight seasons to complete 10+ take-ons in a Champions League semi-final match. 🤯 https://t.co/SksrNt9hfw
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 1, 2024
The last time a player completed more than 11 take-ons in a single Champions League game was Lionel Messi against United in 2008 with 16.
Jadon Sancho is the first Englishman on @OptaJoe‘s records to complete 11+ take-ons in a single Champions League game.
The last player to complete more in a #UCL semi-final? Lionel Messi against Man Utd in 2008 (16). 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/WiAWnJ0cd2
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 1, 2024
During the time he was on the pitch, Sancho registered 99 touches of the ball. He also successfully delivered 51 of the 58 passes he attempted, managing a pass completion rate of 88%. Three of his passes were key passes.
The England international created one big chance and blocked one shot.
He embarked on 17 dribbles and completed 12 of them. Sancho was also imperious defensively. He came out on top in 13 of the 19 ground duels he delved into.
Sancho put in one tackle.
(Stats obtained from Sofascore)
The winger is now into the final month of his loan spell at Dortmund after a mid-season loan back to the club where he made his name.
The player’s display is a timely reminder to United about what he can do under the right conditions and if given sufficient opportunities to prove himself.
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