Barcelona claimed their first UEFA Champions League semi-final appearance since 2019 despite a nervy defeat.
Dortmund, Germany – April 15, 2025 – Borussia Dortmund delivered a sensational performance at a roaring Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday night, defeating FC Barcelona 3-1 in their UEFA Champions League Quarter-final second leg. However, the heroic effort, spearheaded by a remarkable hat-trick from Serhou Guirassy, wasn’t quite enough to overturn the first-leg deficit, as Barcelona progressed to the semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate scoreline.
Coming into the match facing a seemingly insurmountable 4-0 disadvantage from the first leg in Catalonia, Dortmund knew only a footballing miracle would see them through. Yet, fueled by their passionate home support, BVB produced a display full of fight and attacking intent. The belief surged through the stadium early on when Serhou Guirassy confidently converted an 11th-minute penalty, awarded after a foul by Pascal Groß, sending the Yellow Wall into raptures.
Borussia Dortmund Second Half Performance
Dortmund continued to press, needing more goals to chip away at Barcelona’s aggregate lead. Just minutes into the second half, the dream edged closer to reality. In the 49th minute, Guirassy struck again, finishing clinically after being set up by Ramy Bensebaini, making the score 2-0 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate. The comeback was truly on.
However, Barcelona, despite looking rattled, found a crucial, albeit fortunate, moment just five minutes later. A cross into the Dortmund box deflected unfortunately off defender Ramy Bensebaini and into his own net (54′). This own goal provided vital breathing room for Hansi Flick’s side, restoring a three-goal cushion on aggregate (4-3 became 5-2).
Guirassy Individual Brilliance
Despite the setback, Dortmund and Guirassy refused to give up. The Guinean striker, enjoying a phenomenal Champions League campaign, completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, nodding home to make it 3-1 on the night (5-3 aggregate). His treble cemented his place in the record books as the highest-scoring African player in a single Champions League season, capping an incredible individual performance.
Dortmund threw everything forward in the closing stages, with substitutes like Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Julian Brandt adding fresh impetus, but Barcelona managed to hold firm. Despite Dortmund dominating the shots (17 total, 11 on target compared to Barcelona’s 7 total, 2 on target), the Catalan giants navigated the intense pressure to secure their passage.
While Dortmund exit the 2024-25 Champions League with their heads held high after a valiant display, Barcelona march on. They successfully weathered the storm in Germany and booked their place in the semi-finals for the first time in six years, where they will face the winner of the Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan tie. The night belonged to Guirassy’s heroics, but the aggregate victory belonged to Barcelona, who survived a major scare at Signal Iduna Park.
