Barcelona advance to UCL semi-finals despite Dortmund comeback
Barcelona advance to UCL semi-finals despite a spirited 3-1 win by Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their quarter-final clash. The Catalan side moved forward with a 5-3 aggregate score, thanks to a commanding 4-0 victory in the first leg.
Guirassy Hat-Trick Not Enough for Dortmund
Dortmund came out aggressively, determined to reverse their first-leg deficit. Serhou Guirassy led the charge with a hat-trick of penalties, scored in the 11th, 49th, and 76th minutes. Despite his heroics, the Germans couldn’t overcome the early damage inflicted in Barcelona.
The match began with intense pressure from the home side. A late challenge from Barcelona’s goalkeeper Szczesny led to a VAR-awarded penalty, which Guirassy converted to give Dortmund early hope.
Bensebaini Own Goal Halts German Momentum
Barcelona managed to pull one back in the 54th minute, though not through their own doing. Ramy Bensebaini unintentionally redirected a cross from Fermin Lopez into his own net, handing the visitors a crucial away goal. The unfortunate deflection halted Dortmund’s momentum and complicated their uphill battle.
Barcelona showed signs of defensive vulnerability, and their wastefulness in attack was evident when Fermin failed to capitalize on a clear scoring opportunity in the 64th minute. Later, Julian Brandt found the net but saw his effort disallowed due to an offside call. Meanwhile, Ronald Araujo came close to gifting Dortmund another goal after a misjudged clearance, but the chance ultimately went unpunished.
Barcelona Hold Firm to Reach the UCL Semi-Finals
In the closing moments, Dortmund pushed hard for more goals. Kounde made a crucial block in the 85th minute to prevent a possible equalizer on aggregate. Despite the 3-1 loss on the night, Barcelona advance to UCL semi-finals, awaiting the winner of Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich.
