Barcelona secured a place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2019, advancing 5-3 on aggregate despite suffering a 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the second leg on Tuesday. The result marks the Catalan side’s first loss of the year, but it was not enough to derail their campaign.
Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy delivered a stunning performance with a hat-trick, fueling hopes of an improbable comeback after their 4-0 defeat in the first leg. However, an own goal by Ramy Bensebaini and missed opportunities prevented the German side from completing the turnaround.
Also Read: Lewandowski’s Penalty Sends Barcelona to La Liga Summit
Barcelona, who will face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, endured a rough start as Dortmund came out firing. Guirassy’s early penalty put pressure on the visitors, and his second goal shortly after halftime reignited the contest. But Bensebaini’s own goal, under pressure from Robert Lewandowski, provided a crucial cushion.
Despite Guirassy completing his hat-trick in the 76th minute, Dortmund, currently struggling in the Bundesliga, failed to find the extra push needed to force extra time. Their spirited effort, though commendable, was ultimately too late.
Barca coach Hansi Flick acknowledged Dortmund’s strong performance but praised his team’s resilience. “It wasn’t our best day, but we’re in the semi-finals and that’s what matters,” he said.
