DORTMUND, Germany -- The show must go on -- only one day after the attack on Borussia Dortmund's team bus on Tuesday, injuring centre-back Marc Bartra, BVB's home leg against AS Monaco in the quarterfinal of the Champions League was played on Wednesday night. As the horrible events will have taken a lasting impression on the players, the following player ratings are to be taken with a big grain of salt. Final score: 3-2 to the guests.
Positives
Wherever there is darkness, there is light. Both sets of fans respectfully applauded each other for what had been a night of coming together in solidarity. The Yellow Wall once again managed to impress with a choreo that shaped a massive "BVB" on the south stand in Dortmund.
Negatives
"We need four good halves to get to the next round," Thomas Tuchel said on Monday. That endeavour had already failed after the first 45 minutes. The Ruhr side lacked confidence and did not display the body language that they usually show at home, which can be of little surprise after Tuesday's events. However, two of Monaco's goals could have arguably been chalked off -- one definitely, as Kylian Mbappe was offside before redirecting home in the 19th minute. Conceding three away goals will make Dortmund's progression to the semifinals an uphill task away to Monaco in the coming week.
Manager rating out of 10
7 -- It's hard to imagine that a coach could find the right words in such an extraordinary situation. Thomas Tuchel must have done so during the break as the team showed resolve in the second half to get back into the game.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Roman Burki, 5 -- His shirt read "Marc Bartra" when he entered the field to warm up, greeted by a loud and moving roar by the Yellow Wall. There was little the keeper could do about any of the three goals.
DF Lukasz Piszczek, 4 -- His massive blunder will remain the strongest memory of Piszczek's night. His undercooked pass was intercepted by Mbappe and the French 18-year-old had no trouble slotting home Monaco's third.
DF Sokratis Papastathopoulos, 5 -- Somehow escaped a second booking in the second half.
DF Sven Bender, 4 -- His header in the 35th minute looked well-timed. However, it hit the back of his own net. It was hardly visible for the referee that Falcao had clipped the defender's foot right before he was to clear the ball. Unlucky. He was brought off at half-time.
MF Matthias Ginter, 5 -- Started the match as right wing-back, but Monaco's pace had Tuchel rethink this plan and field Christian Pulisic after the break. Ginter continued as left centre-half next to Sokratis.
MF Julian Weigl, 6 -- The midfielder had had some problems in the first half but gained a hold of himself and the midfield with the addition of Nuri Sahin.
MF Raphael Guerreiro, 5 -- Started in midfield next to Weigl, but couldn't impose himself as it was necessary and played the second half as left-back, where he often times was too passive.
MF Marcel Schmelzer, 4 -- Deployed as left wing-back, Marcel Schmelzer had a night to forget on the field, where very little went his way.
MF Shinji Kagawa, 7 -- A goal and an assist for the Japanese international, who could carry his good form throughout a short injury break.
MF Ousmane Dembele, 6 -- Took on Monaco defenders a few times too many in the first half.
FW Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 6 -- A slick back-heel trick initiated Borussia Dortmund's first goal. Although not being on the scoresheet, the Gabonese forward showed his individual class nevertheless.
Substitutes
MF Christian Pulisic, 7 -- Was unstoppable in the first 20 minutes of the second half, as he left Andrea Raggi in his dust time and time again. However, toward the end of the match he became frustrated as his crosses from the right side were always snuffed out by opposing defenders.
MF Nuri Sahin, 7 -- Calm, confident, influencing. Sahin's introduction in the second half massively helped Dortmund to improve their possession game, which was not bad to begin with in the first half.