Barcelona Edge Dortmund to Reach Semis

In the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund gave a lively effort; unfortunately, Serhou Guirassy’s incredible hat-trick was insufficient to reverse a big first-leg deficit.

Dortmund lost out 5-3 overall, despite a 3-1 victory on the night, booking Barcelona a spot in the semi-finals for the first time since 2019.

Early on in the game, Guirassy gently converted a cheeky “Panenka” penalty in the 11th minute after Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny took down Pascal Gross in the box.

Early success sparked hope among the home audience, and Dortmund continued with fierce persistence.

Starting in same fashion, Guirassy headed home from close range in the 49th minute to narrow the total deficit to two goals.

But five minutes later, Dortmund’s momentum was seriously disrupted when defender Ramy Bensebaini unintentionally deflected Fermin Lopez’s low cross into his own net, therefore restoring Barcelona’s three-goal margin.

Still determined, Dortmund kept on pushing. Guirassy took his Champions League count to 13 goals this season after completing his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a weak clearance into the net.

In place of Julian Brandt seemed to have added a fourth shortly afterward, but his effort was dismissed as off-side.

Returning from suspension, Pascal Gross directed most of Dortmund’s assault. Before halftime Karim Adeyemi and Bensebaini also drove Szczesny into crucial saves. In the end, wasted chances and an outlawed goal denied Dortmund a well-known comeback.

Barcelona, who memorably turned around a 4-0 first-leg deficit against PSG in 2017, almost escaped experiencing a like-wise this time. Inter Milan or Bayern Munich will now play them in the semi-finals; Inter leads 2-1 going into their second leg.

Head coach Niko Kovac of Dortmund had earlier said the difficulty required “a miracle.” Although the miracle did not materialize, his side’s tenacious performance was a rare highlight in otherwise erratic season.

Eighth in the Bundesliga right now, Dortmund stays in contention for a top-four finish and European participation.

Barcelona keeps seeking a historic treble in meantime. Set to meet arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final later this month, they sit four points clear in La Liga.