Barca through to Champions League semis despite Guirassy hat-trick

DORTMUND, Germany (AFP) — Barcelona are by means of to the Champions League semi-finals with a 5-3 combination 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 had been made to sweat as Dortmund and Guirassy almost pulled off a surprising 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 could have been completely different had Julian Brandt not been offside earlier than scoring with 11 minutes remaining.

Regardless of shedding their first aggressive sport in 2025, Barcelona are by means of to the semis, preserving 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 mentioned his facet “have to concentrate on the constructive, not the negatives”.

“What the group has proven prior to now few weeks is unbelievable. We’ve acquired rather a lot forward of us this season. We’re a step additional however we’re not even near the top,” added the German.

Barcelona, thought of title favourites, will face both Inter Milan or Bayern Munich within the remaining 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 objectives this season — greater than another participant.

“I’m happy with what we had been capable of do. Barcelona are a powerful group however we fought till the loss of life. We confirmed what we will do,” Guirassy mentioned to Amazon Prime.

Regardless of 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 achieve the semis after the debacle in Catalonia, the hosts’ process acquired slightly tougher when captain and centre-back Emre Can was dominated out with harm 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 slipshod 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 proper 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 cross in the 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 remaining quarter of an hour, blasting in from shut vary after some pleasant dribbling from teenage winger Julian Duranville.

The house 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 remaining levels to stay on observe for the treble.