Barcelona Through To Champions League Semi-Finals Despite Serhou Guirassy Hat-Trick

Barcelona are by means of to the Champions League semi-finals with a 5-3 mixture win, regardless of shedding 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 have been made to sweat as Dortmund and Guirassy practically pulled off a shocking turnaround. Guirassy put Dortmund in entrance with a Panenka from the spot with 11 minutes gone and headed them two targets clear early within the second half.

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

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

Despite shedding their first aggressive recreation in 2025, Barcelona are by means of to the semis, protecting their dream of a exceptional treble alive, 10 years after final finishing the feat by profitable the Champions League in Berlin.

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

“What the workforce has proven previously few weeks is unbelievable. We’ve acquired loads forward of us this season. We’re a step additional however we’re not even near the top,” added the German.

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

‘Fought till the loss of life’

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 targets this season — greater than every other participant.

“I’m pleased with what we have been in a position to do. Barcelona are a robust workforce however we fought till the loss of life. We confirmed what we are able to do,” Guirassy stated to Amazon Prime. 

Despite an enormous 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 succeed in the semis after the debacle in Catalonia, the hosts’ job acquired a bit more durable when captain and centre-back Emre Can was dominated out with damage simply earlier than the match. 

But Dortmund raced out of the blocks, Guirassy and strike associate 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. 

Dortmund sliced Barcelona open repeatedly with out reward till half-time however made it depend 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 correct 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 the direction of Lewandowski which Bensebaini hit into his personal internet.

With Barcelona content material to manage 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. 

The dwelling followers erupted when Brandt scored three minutes later, however the midfielder was offside, permitting Barcelona a breather. 

Barcelona managed to carry on regardless of waves of energetic Dortmund assaults within the last phases to stay on monitor for the treble. 

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