Barcelona advanced to the Champions League semi-finals after a narrow escape against Borussia Dortmund, losing 3-1 on the night but progressing 5-3 on aggregate. Their dominant display in the first leg gave them a strong cushion, but the second leg proved far more challenging than anticipated.
Serhou Guirassy struck three times for the hosts at Signal Iduna Park, leading a spirited fightback that tested the resolve of the Spanish side. Despite the defeat, Barcelona did just enough to maintain their lead and will now face either Inter or Bayern Munich in the next round.
Dortmund came out with intent, buoyed by a passionate home crowd. Their pressure paid off early when Guirassy opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Pascal Gross was brought down by Wojciech Szczesny. A second goal soon followed, but it was ruled out for offside.
Barcelona appeared rattled but managed to reach the break without further damage. Missed chances from Maximilian Beier and Karim Adeyemi meant the visitors still had breathing space at half-time.
The Bundesliga outfit caused repeated problems by exploiting Barcelona’s aggressive positioning. Guirassy’s movement and timing allowed him to benefit from well-timed passes, especially when facing a high defensive line that struggled to keep up.
Just after the restart, Guirassy nodded in another goal after a delivery from Ramy Bensebaini, cutting the aggregate gap to a single goal. But Dortmund’s momentum was stalled when Bensebaini accidentally turned a cross from Fermin Lopez into his own net.
The setback didn’t dampen the hosts’ ambition. Guirassy capitalized on a poor clearance from Ronald Araujo to complete his hat trick and restore belief among the home supporters. However, further efforts were repelled, and Barcelona clung to their overall advantage.
Barcelona’s backline, already under scrutiny this season for its vulnerability, once again looked exposed. Individual errors and positional issues nearly cost them, and it’s likely that changes will be needed for the upcoming semi-final.
The attacking trio of Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski had a quiet night in Dortmund. Usually central to Barcelona’s success, the three forwards were largely ineffective and struggled to make an impact in front of goal.
They managed just two shots combined, with an extremely low expected goals total. Their movement lacked purpose, and they were unable to respond to the intensity brought by the German side.
Even with space to attack, they didn’t display their usual sharpness or creativity. While this performance may be a one-off, Barcelona will need more from their frontline if they hope to progress further in the competition.
Despite the scare, Barcelona remains in the Champions League and will prepare to face one of two European heavyweights in the semi-finals. However, their showing in Dortmund serves as a clear warning that improvement is necessary.
