Borussia Dortmund were denied a circular 16-game Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven because of a debatable penalty that earned the Dutch a 1-1 draw with Germany.
Dortmund led as Donyell Malen chased down PSV’s former employers by giving the German the lead at half-time, but the first-leg hosts found themselves with a controversial point 10 minutes after the break.
Mats Hummels was penalised by Serbian referee Srdjan Jovanovic for a foul on Malik Tillman; obviously they gave him the ball back, but thanks to a forced action in PSV’s midfield.
The Dortmund defender continued to protest when Luuk de Jong scored his free-kick, his 28th goal in a prolific season.
Both groups squandered several important opportunities but failed to produce a winner, leaving the draw well balanced ahead of the second leg on 13 March.
Dortmund did not seem fazed by the loss of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel in the warm-up and stepped on the gas from the start.
Malen tested Walter Benitez’s palms with a shrill shot from the edge of the box, before Tillman went wide at the end.
Niklas Fullkrug burst in from inside the box, but it didn’t take long for the Germans to take the lead.
Marcel Sabitzer sent the ball to Malen on the right flank of the box and the former PSV striker’s shot just wide of the post hit the crossbar was too much for Benitez. The Dortmund striker has opted not to celebrate against his former team.
PSV were unfazed during the opening setback against familiar hands and had two clever chances to equalise. First, Tillman was to blame for a poor finish when he headed in a free kick from Joey Veerman. Bakayoko then failed to finish when he discovered unmarked at the far post. after a cross from Ismael Saibari.
The home side continued their rise after the break and found the equaliser, although without major controversies.
Hirving Lozano released down the left and took the ball away from Tillman. Hummels won back a large part of the ball but also hit the PSV midfielder on his pass. Referee Jovanovic pointed to the spot and VAR accepted the appeal.
De Jong stepped in and substitute goalkeeper Alexander Meyer guessed the right way, the PSV striker’s shot was cool enough to find the back of the net.
Dortmund, feeling a sense of injustice, looked for the lead and Benitez turned away Malen near the post from close range, before recovering a very good shot from substitute Marius Wolf after a free kick by Ian Maatsen.
At the other end, Saibari created a good chance from the edge of the box, while Bakayoko did more than just shoot straight at Meyer, after beating Maatsen on the right.
In the end, in three weeks’ time we go to Dortmund for this match. But how big will the debatable penalty be in the 180 minutes?
PSV boss Peter Bosz:
“It was an open game. At first we struggled with their pressing, but we still controlled to create big chances, especially Tillman in the first half. That’s why it’s a shame we didn’t take the lead, and especially since it fell later.
“It was a very intense match, on a difficult pitch. They didn’t fight back much and we controlled the game, so in that respect it’s a shame that we didn’t score for a second. I don’t think it’s a Champions League.
“You still have to have an idea of what you want to do. “
Edin Terzic, Borussia Dortmund coach:
“The referee ruled that there was a penalty. We still need you to look at the screen. He is very confident in his decision. We think it’s a tough decision.
“The result is such that we still have everything in our hands. It’s clear that we have to win our game at home. But anyway, you have to win at home if you have to.
“In the first half we were smart in the game and we were able to move the ball well. In the second half we weren’t so smart and PSV were obviously better. There is an explanation for why they are where they are. But I think we still have a good chance of going through to the next round. We have to do well at home. “
The second leg will take place on March 13 at Signal Iduna Park, on Saturday at 20:00 PSV against PEC Zwolle, kicking off at 19:00.
Dortmund’s next match will be the Bundesliga home match against Hoffenheim, at the Sky Sports Arena, at 16:30.