Barcelona Reach Champions League Semis Despite Guirassy Hat-Trick in Dortmund Thriller
Barcelona have secured a place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate win, despite falling to a 3-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday night. The result ends a thrilling quarter-final tie, with Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy grabbing the spotlight through a sensational hat-trick that very nearly sparked a historic comeback.
The Catalan giants entered the second leg with a commanding 4-0 lead from the first leg at home, but Dortmund came out with intensity and belief, determined to chase down the deficit. In a night of high drama, Guirassy scored all three goals for the German side, but a crucial own goal from Ramy Bensebaini—forced by Fermin Lopez—ultimately ensured Barcelona’s progression to the final four.
A Fast Start from Dortmund
With their home crowd roaring them on, Dortmund flew out of the blocks. Within the opening 10 minutes, Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier tested Barcelona’s defense with quick, incisive play. The breakthrough came in the 11th minute when Wojciech Szczesny fouled Pascal Gross in the box. Guirassy stepped up and coolly dispatched a Panenka penalty to give the hosts a glimmer of hope.
Dortmund continued to press aggressively, creating several dangerous moments before halftime. Though the second goal eluded them before the break, their relentless attack continued into the second half.
Guirassy Inspires Belief
Just four minutes into the second half, Dortmund struck again. A corner delivered by Bensebaini found Guirassy, who powered home a header to make it 2-0 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate. The momentum had clearly shifted, and with the home crowd sensing the impossible might be within reach, Barcelona appeared rattled.
But Barcelona responded like champions. In the 59th minute, Fermin Lopez chased down a half-cleared cross from Lamine Yamal and whipped a low ball across goal. Under pressure, Bensebaini inadvertently turned it into his own net. That crucial away goal put Barcelona ahead 5-2 on aggregate and gave them the breathing space they needed.
Late Drama but Barça Hold On
Undeterred, Dortmund pressed on. In the 76th minute, Guirassy completed his hat-trick with a smart finish to make it 3-1 and restore hope. It was his 13th goal of the Champions League season—more than any other player—and a club record for Dortmund in the competition, surpassing legends like Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski.
Julian Brandt thought he had added a fourth just minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for offside. That proved to be Dortmund’s final real chance, as Barcelona saw out the remaining minutes with composure.
Barça’s Treble Dream Lives On
Despite suffering their first defeat of the year, Barcelona advanced and now move within two games of a first Champions League final since 2015. Their dreams of a historic treble remain alive—exactly a decade after their last one under Luis Enrique, which also culminated in Berlin.
Manager Hansi Flick, true to his word, resisted the temptation to rotate his squad, fielding his strongest attacking trio of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha. The decision paid off, as the away goal proved decisive in quelling Dortmund’s charge.
Barcelona will now face the winner of the Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich tie in the semi-finals. With their young talents flourishing and experienced stars leading the way, the Blaugrana appear poised for another deep run in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
A Brave Exit for Dortmund
Though they ultimately fell short, Borussia Dortmund can hold their heads high. Their second-leg performance was a massive improvement on the first, with Guirassy’s hat-trick the highlight of an otherwise gut-wrenching exit.
Coach Niko Kovac called for a “miracle” before the match, and for long stretches, it felt like one might materialize. Even without key defender Emre Can, who was ruled out before kickoff, Dortmund showed spirit, quality, and belief—qualities they can take into the rest of their domestic campaign.