Barcelona are into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals — but they were made to sweat for it by a spirited Borussia Dortmund, who won 3-1 on the night thanks to a sensational hat-trick from Serhou Guirassy.
Despite the result, the Spanish giants had enough breathing room from their thumping 4-0 win in the first leg to secure progression on aggregate. But for long stretches in Germany, it looked like the ghosts of La Remontada might come back to haunt them.
Dortmund Start on Fire
Down four goals heading into the second leg, Dortmund needed a miracle — something akin to what Barça pulled off against PSG back in 2017. And they gave it a real red-hot go.
Right from the kick-off, Dortmund were on the front foot. Guirassy, Beier and Svensson peppered Barça's keeper Wojciech Szczęsny early, with Adeyemi causing headaches out wide.
The pressure paid off when Pascal Gross was brought down in the box by Szczęsny. Guirassy stepped up and coolly chipped in a cheeky Panenka to put BVB 1-0 up — and the home fans were suddenly believing.
The intensity didn’t drop, with Dortmund launching wave after wave of attack. Szczęsny kept his side in it with a string of strong saves, denying Bensebaini, Beier, and Adeyemi in a frantic first half.
Second-Half Surge Keeps Dream Alive
Just after the break, Dortmund picked up right where they left off. Adeyemi and Gross again went close before Bensebaini rose high to nod down a corner, which Guirassy tucked home from close range.
Suddenly, it was 2-0 on the night and 2-4 on aggregate — game on.
But Barcelona hit back almost immediately. Fermín López fizzed a low cross into the box, and it took an unlucky deflection off Bensebaini to wrong-foot Kobel and make it 2-1. The away goal took the sting out of Dortmund’s momentum, at least for a moment.
Still, Guirassy wasn’t done. The Guinean striker reacted quickest when Ronald Araújo’s clearance fell at his feet, blasting the ball into the roof of the net to complete a well-earned hat-trick — the first in a Champions League quarter-final since Benzema in 2022.
Brave Dortmund Fall Just Short
Despite their attacking display, Dortmund couldn’t find the two more goals they needed. Barça held on, nervously at times, and scraped through to the final four.
After bowing out in last year’s final, this season's campaign ends for BVB in the quarters. But they exit with heads held high, pushing one of Europe’s elite right to the edge.
Post-match Reaction
Niko Kovač (Dortmund coach):
“We saw top-level football, especially from our side. We gave it everything. Beating Barcelona, even in one leg, is a huge achievement. Proud of the boys.”
Gregor Kobel (Dortmund keeper):
“We started this leg with a mountain to climb. We played with the right mentality and intensity, but sometimes football doesn’t give you the full reward.”
Hansi Flick (Barcelona coach): “We’re in the semi-finals. That’s the main thing. Full credit to Dortmund — they made it tough. But the journey continues.”
Fermín López (Barcelona midfielder):
“Dortmund were unreal tonight. We dominated them at home, but tonight was all about hanging in there. We got through — and we’ll take a lot from that.”
Key Stats from the Match
- Barcelona’s first loss of 2025, snapping a 24-game unbeaten streak across all comps.
- Serhou Guirassy became just the fourth Dortmund player to score a Champions League hat-trick.
- His 13 Champions League goals this season is a new club record for BVB.
- Guirassy now has 15 UCL goals in 18 appearances – only Haaland had more at this stage.
Fantasy Points – Who Delivered?
- Guirassy – 17 points (hat-trick hero)
- Fermín López – 6 points
- Ramy Bensebaini – 5 points
- Pascal Gross – 5 points
Team Line-ups
Dortmund: Kobel; Süle, Anton, Bensebaini; Yan Couto (Brandt 77’), Gross, Nmecha (Reyna 64’), Svensson; Adeyemi (Gittens 77’), Guirassy, Beier (Duranville 64’)
Barcelona:
Szczęsny; Koundé, Cubarsi, Araújo, Gerard Martín; Gavi (Pedri 59’), De Jong; Fermín López (Eric García 70’); Yamal (Ferran Torres 70’), Lewandowski (Olmo 86’), Raphinha
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Mitchell
Mitchell is a seasoned Ph.D. scholar with extensive expertise gained through years of rigorous research, publication, and teaching experience. He brings a wealth of knowledge and analytical skills to tackle complex academic challenges. His work is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions, advancing knowledge, and promoting academic excellence. Proficient in research methodology, data analysis, and scholarly writing, Mitchell has contributed to peer-reviewed journals and mentored students to achieve academic success.
