Barcelona advanced to the Champions League semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate win, despite a 3-1 loss away to Borussia Dortmund in the second leg. Serhou Guirassy was the standout performer for the hosts, scoring a hat-trick and almost leading Dortmund to a sensational comeback.
Barcelona had taken full control of the tie with a dominant 4-0 victory in the first leg. However, the return fixture proved far more challenging. Guirassy opened the scoring with a Panenka penalty just 11 minutes into the game. He then added a second goal early in the second half with a well-timed header from a corner, reducing the aggregate deficit to 4-2.
Barcelona responded shortly after as Fermin Lopez’s cross led to an own goal by Ramy Bensebaini, putting the aggregate score at 5-2 and calming nerves for the visitors. But Guirassy reignited hope for Dortmund with a third goal in the 76th minute, capitalising on a brilliant run by Julian Duranville to make it 5-3.
Dortmund nearly added a fourth through Julian Brandt, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Despite intense pressure from the home side in the closing stages, Barcelona held on to secure a place in the final four.
The result marks Barcelona’s first appearance in the Champions League semi-finals since 2019 and keeps their hopes of a treble alive, a decade after their last treble triumph in 2015. They will face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich in the next round.
Guirassy, who now leads the Champions League scoring charts with 13 goals, said he was proud of Dortmund’s fight, stating, “We showed what we can do.”
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, despite having a strong lead, stuck with his main attacking trio of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha. Dortmund were dealt a blow before kick-off when captain Emre Can was ruled out due to injury, but they still pushed Barca all the way in a thrilling second leg.
