Serhou Guirassy delivered a masterclass performance with a brilliant hat-trick, but it wasn’t enough as Borussia Dortmund crashed out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarterfinal stage, despite a 3-1 win over Barcelona in the second leg.
Dortmund entered the match trailing 4-0 on aggregate after a disastrous first leg in Barcelona. However, backed by a roaring home crowd, they launched into the game with intensity and belief. The early reward came when Guirassy coolly converted a Panenka penalty in the 11th minute after Pascal Gross was fouled by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. It marked Guirassy’s 11th goal of the campaign—a new Champions League record for a Dortmund player in a single season.
Barcelona appeared rattled by Dortmund’s relentless pressing and physical approach. Both Guirassy and Gross had chances before the break, with Dortmund dominating possession and forcing the Spanish giants to play cautiously.
The second half started with fireworks as Guirassy nodded in his second from close range just four minutes after the restart, igniting hopes of a historic comeback. But just five minutes later, Barcelona caught a lucky break when Ramy Bensebaini turned a low cross into his own net, restoring some comfort for the visitors.
Undeterred, Dortmund continued their charge. In the 70th minute, substitute Julien Duranville teed up Guirassy for his third of the night, setting the stage for a tense finish. Julian Brandt’s goal was ruled out for offside, and despite Dortmund’s relentless attack, they couldn’t find the two additional goals needed to force extra time.
Barcelona, though defeated on the night, secured their place in the semifinals with a 5-3 aggregate victory. “Full credit to Dortmund—they played their hearts out,” said Barcelona coach Hansi Flick. “The fans, the energy, everything here was incredible. It wasn’t easy.”
Dortmund exits the tournament with pride, while Barcelona looks ahead to yet another Champions League semifinal appearance.