Sokratis Says He 'Feels Like an Animal' After UEFA Schedule Dortmund vs. Monaco
Apr 13, 2017
Dortmund's Greek defender Sokratis (L) and Dortmund's Portuguese defender Raphael Guerreiro are pictured prior to the UEFA Champions League 1st leg quarter-final football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Monaco in Dortmund, western Germany on April 12, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / SASCHA SCHUERMANN (Photo credit should read SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopouloshas said he "feels like an animal" after his team lost 3-2 to AS Monaco in Wednesday's rearranged UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday before three bomb explosions around the German team's bus delayed the match by 24 hours. However, Sokratis voiced his displeasure at the limited turnaround when speaking to ESPN FC after Wednesday's loss:
It is very difficult today to think to go and play football. For everybody, it is very difficult to go to work after yesterday. I hope that what happened to us, never happens to anyone else. I hope that was the last time.
We will speak with our president and with our coach. But we don't have any solutions. I feel like what I said before: I feel like an animal and not like a person. Who doesn't live this can't understand how big it was for us.
The Greece international was clearly frustrated after being forced to perform just one day after the traumatic event, particularly after team-mate Marc Bartra was hurt in the incident, per BBC Sport.
Sokratis also made sure to mention European football's governing body, UEFA, in his criticism as he suggested the Black and Yellows needed more time to mentally prepare for the clash following Tuesday's events:
I am happy first that I am alive. It was the most difficult day that I have lived in my life and I hope that nobody else has to live this day. After yesterday I don't have any more space to think about the game.
They [UEFA] have to understand that we are not animals. We are people who have families, who have kids in the house. And we are not animals. I am happy that all the players are alive, and all the staff are alive.
Two goals from Kylian Mbappe helped sink the Black and Yellows at Signal Iduna Park along with Sven Bender's own goal, meaning Ousmane Dembele and Shinji Kagawa's second-half goals couldn't pull them level.
Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel joined Sokratis in airing his concerns with what he perceived as a lack of compassion on the organisers' part when speaking to Jan Aage Fjortoft of Scandinavian broadcaster Viasat:
TUCHEL: – It was a terrible experience for all of us. We wanted a bit more time to deal with it.
Tuchel asserted his squad were "attacked on the bus as human beings," and it's true no professional player may be mentally equipped to deal with such an instance, never mind doing so in the space of just 24 hours.
The objections of Dortmund's player and manager may be just the beginning of the fallout we see emerging from the decision to stage the game just a day after one team saw their lives threatened. Dortmund nevertheless have a steep hill to climb when they travel to the Stade Louis II trailing 3-2 next Wednesday.
This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.
Thomas Tuchel Says Borussia Dortmund 'Felt Quite Helpless' Before Monaco Replay
Apr 12, 2017
Dortmund's head coach Thomas Tuchel reacts from the sidelines during the UEFA Champions League 1st leg quarter-final football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Monaco in Dortmund, western Germany on April 12, 2017.
The match had been postponed after three explosions hit German football team Borussia Dortmund's bus late on April 11, 2017 ahead of a Champions League home game. / AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ (Photo credit should read PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel has said the German outfit "wished for more time" to prepare for their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against AS Monaco after an explosion near the team's bus on Tuesday delayed the fixture.
The Black and Yellows lost 3-2 to Monaco, and Tuchel revealed his club "were informed by text that the decision had been made in Switzerland" to re-stage the match a day later, per Bleacher Report's Lars Pollman, who provided further quotes:
Tuchel added his team "felt quite helpless" after being informed they would be back in action on Wednesday despite any trauma the players might have suffered as a result of the explosion, per BBC News:
Kylian Mbappe netted twice for Monaco along with a Sven Bender own goal, meaning Ousmane Dembele and Shinji Kagawa's second-half strikes were not enough to rescue a win for Dortmund in their home quarter-final leg.
BT Sport commentator Derek Rae provided more post-match comments from Tuchel, who elaborated upon his bitter feeling toward UEFA in regards to the way they handled the rescheduling of Tuesday's fixture:
Tuchel: 'it (the scheduling) didn't give us a good feeling. As though a can of beer had been thrown at our window.'
However, the Guardian's David Conn provided an update on the matter from UEFA on Thursday morning, with European football's governing body said to have agreed the rescheduling with both clubs beforehand:
Uefa response to Borussia Dortmund manager criticism: decision to play the game was agreed by both clubs and local authorities.
That report suggests Tuchel may have been left out of the loop by his own club when it came to when the match would be replayed.
Monaco's three away goals mean Dortmund will have a big task ahead of them when they travel to the Stade Louis II next Wednesday, where they will hope to restrain a Monaco side that currently leads Ligue 1 by three points.
The bigger topic, however, is the fact UEFA didn't communicate with Dortmund before informing them they would be back in action so soon after Tuesday's explosions, a decision that may have wrecked the German outfit's Champions League chances.
For more news, rumors and related stories about Borussia Dortmund and the UEFA Champions League, check out the Champions League and Borussia Dortmund streams on Bleacher Report's app.
Kylian Mbappe Brace Lifts Monaco to 3-2 First-Leg Win vs. Borussia Dortmund
Apr 12, 2017
Monaco's French forward Kylian Mbappe Lottin reacts after scoring during the UEFA Champions League 1st leg quarter-final football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Monaco in Dortmund, western Germany on April 12, 2017.
The match had been postponed after three explosions hit German football team Borussia Dortmund's bus late on April 11, 2017 ahead of a Champions League home game. / AFP PHOTO / Sascha Schuermann (Photo credit should read SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP/Getty Images)
AS Monaco snatched the advantage in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday after Kylian Mbappe bagged a brace to sink Borussia Dortmund 3-2 at Signal Iduna Park in the rescheduled first segment of their two-legged affair.
Fabinho missed an early penalty for the travelling outfit before Mbappe made up for the error soon after, and makeshift centre-back Sven Bender scored an own goal to put the guests into a 2-0 lead.
Dortmund hit back in the second half through Ousmane Dembele, and though Mbappe broke free late to net a third for the French titans, Shinji Kagawa's 85th-minute goal rescued some hope for the German quarter-finalists.
Wednesday's meeting—originally meant to be played on Tuesday—was postponed after Borussia Dortmund's team bus was hit by one of three small explosions, per BBC News. Defender Marc Bartra was absent on Wednesday due to a hand injury suffered in that incident, meaning midfielder Bender deputised in defence.
Although it took a while to find its flow, Wednesday's delayed meeting eventually developed into a fast-paced festivity of the highest order, per ESPN's Musa Okwonga:
Dortmund-Monaco is the closest speed football gets to ice hockey.
Two teams that operate largely on the strength of their attacks collided in North Rhine-Westphalia, and it was the German hosts who opened the match looking more likely to open the scoring.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was busy in his attempts to find space amid the Monaco defence, but their lack of a clinical touch meant a surprise break from the visitors put Dortmund under unwelcome pressure after 15 minutes.
It was then that Mbappe's run on to a lofted ball over the top bamboozled Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who was adjudged to have bundled the Monaco hitman down, and there wasn't much room for argument on the decision.
The Brazilian is usually a sure thing from 12 yards, but a pull to the goal's left saw Fabinho mark an undesirable career first, per Squawka:
That is the first penalty Fabinho has ever missed for Monaco in all competitions.
Fortunately for him, manager Leonardo Jardim has a myriad of avenues through which his team can score, and the predatory Mbappe was on hand to convert from a Thomas Lemar cross just minutes later.
Bernardo Silva's driving run through Dortmund's midfield opened space for Lemar on the edge of the enemy's box, and although Mbappe was on hand at the back post to convert, Ligue 1 Show presenter Matt Spiro noted the goal wasn't without its controversy:
Not only is Mbappe brilliant, but he's also lucky. Well offside for that goal
Dortmund settled in the exchanges after conceding and built some pressure in the opposing half, but Monaco's attack once again proved itself the more dangerous after forcing Bender into a 35th-minute own goal.
Matthias Ginter—playing in a right wing-back role—left Andrea Raggi free down his flank, and the Italian's cross was headed into the Dortmund goal by Bender. Despite suggestions RadamelFalcao clipped him before the goal, the Guardian's Sachin Nakrani wasn't buying Bender's calls for a foul in the buildup:
Black and Yellows managers Thomas Tuchel knew at the interval that his side had their work cut out for them on a tough night on home turf, and his half-time words appeared to take effect as Dortmund came out firing in the second half.
Nuri Sahin and ChristianPulisic came on in place of defenders Bender and Marcel Schmelzer at the break, and those changes had a rejuvenating impact on the home team's attack, which quickly looked more threatening across the board.
A series of Dortmund corners eventually led to more pressure in the Monaco area, and Raphael Guerreiro's cross into the box found Kagawa one-on-one with 'keeper Danijel Subasic before selflessly teeing up Dembele to tap in.
ESPN's James Tyler highlighted the home side's much-improved outlook after returning from a first half they'd undoubtedly rather have forgotten:
Dortmund have been ace in the second half. Sahin directing play, Pulisic running direct at pace, movement from Kagawa, Dembele and Auba.
Falcao had his chance to reclaim a two-goal lead with 15 minutes remaining, when he rounded Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki before spraying wide of an open goal, a chance he might have come to regret with Monaco's chances waning.
But Mbappe's killer finishing again made up for a team-mate's mistake when Lukasz Piszczek's misplaced pass in defence gifted the Frenchman a run through on goal. He slotted into Burki's top-right corner with apparent ease and in the process became the youngest player to score a brace in the Champions League knockout stages, via BT Sport:
Cool, calm, collected.
One of the hottest prospects in football does it again.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 12, 2017
Again, Monaco's two-goal cushion was only temporary, however, as Kagawa was in the right place at the right time to cut the visitors back down to size with his short-range effort.
The Japan international showed great composure in front of Subasic's goal, tucking the ball into his feet before converting inside the far post to add another goal contribution to his performance:
Dortmund might count themselves unlucky not to have found a much-desired equaliser in the dying embers of the fixture after ending in the ascendancy, but one could argue Monaco were worthy of their win.
Monaco's place atop Ligue 1's summit will come under fire when they play host to relegation-threatened Dijon on Saturday, a fixture that may hand Jardim a chance to rest some key faces if he sees fit.
Meanwhile, Dortmund will hope they can respond quickly to their recent 4-1 defeat at Bayern Munich when they welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to the Westfalenstadion on Saturday, where a win could move the Black and Yellows up to third in the Bundesliga.
These two teams will then reconvene for their second-leg meeting next Wednesday, where Dortmund are under immense pressure to prove their credentials at the Stade Louis II.
Post-Match Reaction
Dortmund's head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) comforts his players after the UEFA Champions League 1st leg quarter-final football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Monaco in Dortmund, western Germany on April 12, 2017.
The match had been postponed one day after thr
Dortmund chief Tuchel was humble in defeat after seeing his side fall behind following the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, but he made some startling revelations regarding the replay in his post-match comments.
Per Bleacher Report's Lars Pollmann, Tuchel said Dortmund were never consulted on when the replayed fixture would take place, and UEFA informed them of the decision in a rather impersonal manner:
Tuchel says they were never asked whether they could play. "We were informed by text that the decision had been made in Switzerland" (UEFA) https://t.co/2d7NhYqUuk
— @larspollmann.bsky.social (@LarsPollmann) April 12, 2017
Pollmann provided more quotes from Tuchel, who added his team "wished for more time not only to process things but also to be able to play in our best form."
The Black and Yellows boss also illustrated just how badly he felt his club had been treated after the debacle, per BT Sport commentator Derek Rae:
Tuchel: 'it (the scheduling) didn't give us a good feeling. As though a can of beer had been thrown at our window.'
It goes without saying that Tuesday's explosions made the quarter-final fixture a very special case, but UEFA's decision risks setting a poor precedent for teams affected by matters so far out of their control.
Dortmund's Champions League hopes now hang by a thread, and they'll require an almighty fightback at the Stade Louis II next Wednesday if they're to have any hope of landing a place in the semi-finals.
German Prosecutors Detain Islamic Extremist After Borussia Dortmund Bus Attack
Apr 12, 2017
DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 12: Team bus of the Borussia Dortmund football club damaged in an explosion is seen on April 12, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. According to police an explosion detonated as the bus was leaving the hotel where the team was staying to bring them to their Champions League game against Monaco. So far one person, team member Marc Bartra, is reported injured. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Police have reportedly detained one man and are on the hunt for another in connection to the attacks on the Borussia Dortmund team bus on Tuesday night.
Rob Harris of the Associated Press relayed the news that the pair, described by police as Islamic extremists, are the focus of the investigation:
DORTMUND EXPLOSIONS: 2 Islamic extremists are focus of attack probe. 1 has been detained.@APhttps://t.co/Yl2Q9ocqSB
Dortmund's vehicle was the target of three explosions ahead of their UEFA Champions League game against AS Monaco, which was subsequently postponed until Wednesday. The blasts left defender Marc Bartra in hospital with a fractured wrist, per BBC Sport.
As relayed by Harris, spokeswoman for federal prosecutors Frauke Koehler said the pair of suspects are of an "Islamist spectrum." Both are said to have had their properties searched, with one taken into custody.
More details about the attack have emerged, with Matthias Marburg of Bild reporting the consequences could have been much worse:
The bombs that harmed the @BVB-bus were filled with nails. One of those nails was found in a headrest. Could have been much worse.
A letter claiming responsibility for the attack was found near the sight of the explosions, according to police. Koehler stated the note demanded "the withdrawal of German Tornado reconnaissance jets from Turkey and the closure of the United States' Ramstein Air Base in Germany," per Harris.
According to the BBC, the federal prosecutors have taken over the investigation due to it potentially being an act of terrorism.
The attacks have been condemned by chancellor Angela Merkel as a "revolting act" while UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the bombings had "deeply disturbed" him, per BBC.
DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 11: (L-R) Sven Bender, Marcel Schmelzer and Nuri Sahin of Borussia Dortmund are escorted to a car by police after the team bus of the Borussia Dortmund was damaged in an explosion on April 11, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. According
The match between Dortmund and Monaco at the Signal Iduna Park will go ahead on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. BST.
BVB's chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said "this is perhaps the most difficult situation that we have faced in the past decades" and was adamant they "show society that we do not bend before terror," per BBC.
Borussia Dortmund Launch 'Beds for Away Fans' to Help Monaco After Bus Explosion
Apr 12, 2017
DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 11: A fan wearing a Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco scarf at the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco at Signal Iduna Park on April 11, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund supporters came to the aid of stranded AS Monaco fans on Tuesday evening by offering accommodation after their UEFA Champions League match was postponed.
An attack on the Dortmund team bus consisting of three explosions left defender Marc Bartra in hospital with a fractured wrist, per BBC Sport. With the quarter-final first leg put back a day, the Bundesliga side sent out the following message on social media to help visiting supporters find a place to stay, using a "bedforawayfans" hashtag:
Quickly, more posts started to flood in depicting fans of the two clubs together at various venues, often sitting down to eat and have a beer, as we can see here courtesy of Twitter user Jay Jay:
Dortmund’s chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke paid tribute to the way in which the Dortmund supporters acquitted themselves. "I have to express a huge compliment to our fans, who have dealt with it very well, objectively, reasonably and solidly," he said, per the Guardian.
Bundesliga journalist Alex Chaffer also praised the manner in which the club and the Dortmund police dealt with the situation:
Football has responded, already with #bedforawayfans, and I'm sure tomorrow evening's match will do the same with a passionate atmosphere.
Monaco also sought to do their bit for their visiting fans who needed a place to stay. The club posted on social media that they were willing to subsidise supporters €80 for those who needed to book a hotel for the evening.
Monaco supporters with Borussia scarves react in the stadium after the match was postponed amid an explosion near the bus of Borussia Dortmund some 10km away from the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 1st leg quarter-final football match BVB Boru
The spectators that were in the stadium early on also showed their class. As the news started to spread that the Dortmund bus had been the victim of an attack and the match was to be rescheduled, the visitors showed their backing for the German side, per Twitter user Sandra Goldschmidt:
As reported by Mark Crellin of Sky Sports, local police authorities have confirmed they are investigating what they described as a "targeted attack" on the Dortmund team bus.
Per BBC Sport, they also confirmed a letter was found near the scenes of the blast in which responsibility is taken for the incident.
Letter Found Near Borussia Dortmund Bus Explosion 'Takes Responsibility' for Act
Apr 12, 2017
Borussia Dortmund's damaged bus is pictured after an explosion some 10km away from the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 1st leg quarter-final football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Monaco in Dortmund, western Germany on April 11, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Patrik STOLLARZ (Photo credit should read PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
A letter is reported to have been discovered near the scene of a "targeted attack" on the Borussia Dortmund team bus in which responsibility for the incident has been admitted.
According to Barney Henderson of the Daily Telegraph, a German prosecutor said the note found near the site of the attack "takes responsibility for the act."
It's been reported by Sueddeutsche Zeitung (h/t Reuters) that in the document, the motive for the attack is said to be a response to German military action in Syria against Islamic State. "The newspaper also said that the letter might be a deliberate attempt by the perpetrators to mislead investigators," it's noted.
The Bundesliga side’s vehicle was the target of three explosions on Tuesday night ahead of their UEFA Champions League showdown with Monaco, leaving defender Marc Bartra in hospital with a fractured wrist and prompting the match to be postponed until Wednesday, per BBC Sport.
The attack took place as the Dortmund team left their hotel on Tuesday to head to their Westfalenstadion for the quarter-final showdown.
Dortmund police authorities held a press conference after the attacks and detailed the nature of the explosions.
"We must start from [the position this was] a targeted attack on BVB's team," said the chief of police Gregor Lange, per Mark Crellin of Sky Sports. "Strong police forces are in operation. We also have explosive detection dogs in use and decided to search the scene from the air. At the present time it is not clear what the background of the act is."
(L-R) State Prosecutor Sandra Luecke, Dortmund Chief of Police, Gregor Lange and Police Superintendent Michael Stein addresses a press conference at Police headquaters after the game was postponed due to the explosion which hit the Borussia Dortmund team
As relayed by Crellin, the police force also confirmed the existence of the letter and suggested on their Twitter feed that "the authenticity is currently being tested."
Per sports journalist Alex Chaffer, the authorities have also provided details on what they are searching for at this time:
German police searching for a car with foreign number plates, too, according to police.
Dortmund’s goalkeeper Roman Burki has since spoken about what it was like to be onboard the bus when the explosions went off.
"The bus then turned down the main street and there was a massive explosion," he told Blick (h/t Mark Critchley of The Independent. "I was sitting in the back row next to [Bartra], who was hit by fragments of broken glass. After the bang, we all ducked and some threw themselves to the ground."
As relayed by Deutsche Welle’s Thomas Sparrow, the country has come out in support of Dortmund after the attacks:
Indeed, the reaction following the incident from many parts of the football community has been positive, with Dortmund fans offering stranded Monaco supporters accommodation by utilising the hashtag "bedforawayfans" on social media.
The rescheduled match at the Westfalenstadion will be played on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. (BST) ahead of Real Madrid's visit to Bayern Munich and Leicester City's match at Atletico Madrid.
Hans-Joachim Watzke Says Borussia Dortmund 'In Shock' After Explosions Near Bus
Apr 11, 2017
DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 11: AS Monaco fans in the Signal Iduna Park / Westfalenstadion the home stadium of Borussia Dortmund at the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco at Signal Iduna Park on April 11, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke provided his first public comments following explosions near the team's bus Tuesday before a Champions League match against AS Monaco.
"The team is in shock. We must get through this," Watzke said, per the Guardian's Ed Aarons. "In extreme situations, all Borussia fans move even closer together and I'm sure the team will feel that tomorrow."
Borussia Dortmund announced the match is postponed until Wednesday night.
"Technically, it's possible to play [tomorrow]," Watzke said. "If the players are able to shake this off is an entirely different matter."
German police confirmed "three explosive charges had detonated," causing damage to the bus windows and tires, per the BBC.
Marc Mayo of Spanish paper Marca reported Dortmund defender Marc Bartra required surgery on his wrist as a result of the explosions. Bartra was the only person harmed.
Marc Bartra Injured in Explosion Near Borussia Dortmund Bus, Undergoes Surgery
Apr 11, 2017
DORTMUND, GERMANY - MARCH 08: Marc Bartra of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Second Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and SL Benfica at Signal Iduna Park on March 08, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund defender Marc Bartra was sent to a local hospital following an explosion near the Dortmund team bus prior to Tuesday night's Champions League match against AS Monaco, the club announced.
Dortmund director of communication Sascha Fligge announced Bartra had a hand operation, broke a bone in his right wrist and had foreign matter stuck in his arm, per Alex Chaffer of Sky Sports.
UEFA postponed the match until Wednesday, according to ESPN FC.
Spanish paper Sport (via Eurosport's Tom Adams) described the 26-year-old as "OK but in shock."
Police in Dortmund confirmed there were three explosions that burst the bus' windscreen, per the Guardian's Philip Oltermann.
Bartra is in his first year with the German club after moving from Barcelona. He has started 17 Bundesliga games and seven Champions League games for Dortmund.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Monaco Postponed After Explosion Near BVB Bus
Apr 11, 2017
Police patrol outide the stadium after the team bus of Borussia Dortmund had some windows broken by an explosion some 10km away from the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 1st leg quarter-final football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Monaco in Dortmund, western Germany on April 11, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund's Tuesday fixture against Monaco at the Westfalenstadion has been postponed after an explosion near the German club's team bus.
Fox Soccer confirmed the match had been called off and would be played on Wednesday:
BREAKING: Dortmund confirm that tonight's #UCL match vs Monaco has been postponed. Game set for tomorrow at 12:45pm ET. #BVBASM
The two outfits had been set to meet on Tuesday for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie.
In the hour ahead of Tuesday's scheduled kick-off, Dortmund confirmed there had been a "bomb explosion" as the team travelled to the match from the hotel, with assurances made that the players were safe (h/t the Times' Oliver Kay).
It was subsequently revealed that one person had been injured in the incident—in which "an explosion shattered windows on the bus"—and taken to hospital, per ESPN.
BVB later confirmed it was centre-back Marc Bartra who was hurt, via ESPN FC.
Bild's Sebastian Kolsberger provided images of the vehicle:
A police statement explained, via ESPN: "It is not yet possible to say exactly what the explosion was or exactly where something exploded."
Borussia Dortmund Confirm Explosion Near Team Bus Ahead of Monaco Match
Apr 11, 2017
DORTMUND, GERMANY - MARCH 08: General View of the Signal Iduna Park sign prior to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Borussia Dortmund and SL Benfica at Signal Iduna Park on March 8, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund have confirmed there was an explosion in the proximity of their team bus ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash with Monaco at the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday.
The Times' Oliver Kay passed on BVB's announcement, which stated players were safe. Dortmund later announced (h/t ESPN FC) that defender Marc Bartra was taken to the hospital after the explosion.
Sebastian Kolsberger of BILD shared images of the team bus:
Per Fox Soccer, Tuesday's fixture has been postponed and will now be played on Wednesday.
The German club (h/t ESPN) say one person was injured in the incident, which occurred as Dortmund were travelling to the stadium for the European clash.
"The bus turned on the main road when there was suddenly a huge bang, a proper explosion," goalkeeper Roman Burki said, per The Guardian. "The police were quickly on the spot and handled the situation. We were all in shock. After the bang we all ducked and those who could lie on the floor did so. We didn’t know what was going to happen next.”
They face Monaco in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, with the reverse fixture at Stade Louis II scheduled for April 19.
