Brandt on PSG tie: "The foundation must be laid in the first leg"

Ahead of Borussia Dortmund's Champions League semifinal clash with Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday night, Julian Brandt has highlighted the importance of a good result in the first leg.

"I believe both teams are capable of delivering great things. I think we'll fancy our chances, but I'm sure PSG will do the same. The foundation must be laid in the first leg," Brandt said in an interview published on Borussia Dortmund's website.

It will come down to small things, that's always the case in a semi-final. So we have to make sure we don't make the same mistakes this time as we did against Atletico."

Dortmund have already faced PSG twice this season, losing 2-0 in Paris and drawing 1-1 in Germany in the group stage. Looking back on those games, Brandt said:

"Our performance in Paris was atrocious. We seemed a bit daunted each time we got forward. We didn't play well. The game at home was a bit different. We knew that a draw would be enough for us to win the group. That's different to an all-or-nothing situation like we'll have in the semi-finals."