Barca through to Champions League semis despite Guirassy hat-trick

Barcelona are by way of to the Champions League semifinals with a 5-3 combination win, regardless of dropping 3-1 at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday with Serhou Guirassy hitting a hat-trick.

Holding a 4-0 lead after a dominant efficiency in Catalonia, the guests had been made to sweat as Dortmund and Guirassy almost pulled off a shocking turnaround.

Guirassy put Dortmund in entrance with a Panenka from the spot with 11 minutes gone and headed them two objectives clear early within the second half.

Dortmund sensed a sensation however Barcelona hit again, Fermin Lopez forcing Ramy Bensebaini into an personal purpose with simply over half an hour remaining.

Guirassy reignited Dortmund’s perception with a 3rd on the 76th-minute mark and the ultimate levels might have been totally different had Julian Brandt not been offside earlier than scoring with 11 minutes remaining.

Regardless of dropping their first aggressive sport in 2025, Barcelona are by way of to the semis, retaining their dream of a exceptional treble alive, 10 years after final finishing the feat by profitable the Champions League in Berlin.

SEE YOU IN THE NEXT ROUND! 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/i7zVRcopxb

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 15, 2025

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised Dortmund’s efficiency and stated his facet “must deal with the constructive, not the negatives”.

“What the group has proven up to now few weeks is unbelievable. We have so much forward of us this season. We’re a step additional however we’re not even near the tip,” added the German.

Barcelona, thought of title favourites, will face both Inter Milan or Bayern Munich within the last 4.

‘FOUGHT UNTIL THE DEATH’

Clearly outclassed within the first leg, Dortmund will take inspiration from Tuesday’s efficiency, not least the goalscoring type of Guirassy.

The 29-year-old Guinean, who has spent most of his profession bouncing between the primary and second divisions in Germany and France, now has 13 Champions League objectives this season – greater than every other participant.

“I am happy with what we had been capable of do. Barcelona are a robust group however we fought till the dying. We confirmed what we are able to do,” Guirassy stated to Amazon Prime.

Regardless of a giant first-leg lead, Hansi Flick made good on his pre-match pledge to proceed attacking, opting in opposition to resting any of his attacking trident of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal or Raphinha.

With coach Niko Kovac admitting Dortmund wanted a “miracle” to achieve the semis after the debacle in Catalonia, the hosts’ process received just a little more durable when captain and centre-back Emre Can was dominated out with damage simply earlier than the match.

However Dortmund raced out of the blocks, Guirassy and strike accomplice Maximilian Beier going shut contained in the opening 10 minutes earlier than Pascal Gross was the sufferer of a careless foul within the field by Wojciech Szczesny.

Guirassy stepped as much as the spot and was nerveless, calmly unleashing a Panenka to get the hosts underway.

Not the cheeky panenka from Guirassy 👀🎯

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— SuperSport Soccer ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 15, 2025

Dortmund sliced Barcelona open repeatedly with out reward till halftime however made it rely 4 minutes into the second-half, Guirassy heading in a Ramy Bensebaini help from a nook.

With Dortmund’s 81 355-strong Westfalenstadion smelling blood, Barcelona’s acquainted response was to ship their assault down the precise and the transfer paid off nearly instantly.

After Yamal’s cross was half-cleared, Fermin Lopez discovered himself within the teenager’s channel, whipping a move in direction of Lewandowski which Bensebaini hit into his personal web.

With Barcelona content material to regulate possession because the clock wound down, Guirassy relit the hosts’ hopes when he scored his third within the last quarter of an hour, blasting in from shut vary after some pleasant dribbling from teenage winger Julian Duranville.