Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured their passage into the Champions League knockout stage with a nail-biting 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund in Wednesday’s intense showdown.

The match witnessed a flurry of action, as Warren Zaire-Emery, the 17-year-old prodigy, emerged as the savior for PSG. His equalizing strike, fired in just five minutes after Karim Adeyemi’s goal for Dortmund, marked a crucial turning point in the match. However, the Parisian side owed a debt of gratitude to AC Milan for their 2-1 victory over Newcastle, ensuring PSG’s advancement despite the draw.

PSG coach Luis Enrique acknowledged the significance of Newcastle’s loss, admitting, “The result in Newcastle was very good for us.”

The game held a series of near misses and gripping moments. Kylian Mbappé appeared to seal the win for PSG with a stunning shot past Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel, only for the goal to be disallowed due to offside after a VAR review. Follow your favourite Champions League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet. 

Both sides created numerous opportunities throughout the match, with Dortmund’s Niklas Süle delivering a remarkable goal-line clearance to deny Mbappé and PSG’s Bradley Barcola hitting the post.

Dortmund coach Edin Terzić praised Süle’s heroic clearance, describing it as “like a goal for us.”

Zaire-Emery’s historic goal, which saw him become the youngest French player to score in the Champions League at just 17 years and 280 days old, secured PSG’s progression for the 12th consecutive season. This feat puts him in esteemed company, surpassing the likes of Benzema, Mbappé, and Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tels in achieving this milestone at a younger age.

Despite the deadlock, PSG’s advancement to the last 16 was sealed, leaving Milan to secure third place and entry into the Europa League knockout round playoffs.

The match’s back-and-forth nature and missed opportunities left both coaches, Sebastian Kehl of Dortmund and Luis Enrique of PSG, acknowledging the fair outcome of a draw.

With PSG extending their Champions League journey and Zaire-Emery etching his name in history, the thrilling encounter at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park will be remembered as a night of suspense, missed chances, and ultimately, PSG’s persistence prevailing to secure their spot in the knockout stages. Get the latest updates from the Champions League only on Nextbet Sports.