Barcelona advances to Champions League semifinals for first time since 2019

FC Barcelona secured their spot in the UEFA Champions League semifinals after a 5-3 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund, despite losing 3-1 in the second leg. Their dominant 4-0 victory in the first leg proved decisive in advancing. This marks Barcelona’s return to the semifinals after five years, with their last appearance in this stage being in 2019. Head coach Hansi Flick celebrated the achievement but acknowledged the team’s need to improve its overall performance moving forward.

ALSO SEE: 4chan hacked: Admin data and source code leaked in major security breach

Guirassy’s hat-trick sparks hope, but Bensebaini's own goal seals Barcelona’s progress

Serhou Guirassy was the standout player, scoring a hat-trick for Borussia Dortmund, including one penalty and two field goals. Despite his impressive individual performance, Dortmund couldn’t overcome the large deficit from the first leg. Guirassy became one of the few players to score a hat-trick against Barcelona in European competitions, offering a glimmer of hope for Dortmund in a challenging tie. His performance, however, wasn’t enough to turn the tide in Dortmund’s favor.

A key moment came in the 54th minute when Borussia Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini scored an own goal, which ultimately sealed Barcelona’s qualification. The unintended goal increased Barcelona's aggregate lead, alleviating pressure on the visitors, who had struggled for much of the match. While not intentional, this own goal proved crucial in the final outcome of the tie. Barcelona, despite their struggles in the game, benefited from this stroke of fortune.

Barcelona holds firm against Dortmund to reach Champions League semifinals, eyes sixth european cup

Despite losing in Dortmund, Barcelona demonstrated resilience and managed to protect their advantage from the first leg. The team faced defensive and attacking challenges throughout the match, but they successfully held on to their overall lead. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny played a key role, making several important saves to prevent a greater margin of defeat. Barcelona's ability to stay mentally strong and weather the storm in this difficult tie reflects their experience in European competitions.

With their semifinal qualification, Barcelona now stands among the top four teams in Europe, signaling the potential for a new era of success in the Champions League. They will face the winner of the Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich tie, both teams with rich tournament histories. The experience gained from this tie will be invaluable in the upcoming rounds, and fans hope the team can maintain the level of performance shown in the group stages and first leg against Dortmund. The semifinal qualification is just the first step toward Barcelona’s ultimate goal—securing their sixth European Cup in history.