Barcelona, although they reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2019, did not celebrate their victory in Dortmund with enthusiasm. The 3-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund, with a stellar Serhou Guirassy scoring a hat-trick, left a bittersweet taste.
The 4-0 triumph in the first leg seemed to secure the pass, but the Catalan team suffered in Germany. Although Guirassy’s three goals were not enough for the comeback, the match evoked memories of past European eliminations, such as against Roma and Liverpool.
Despite the defeat, Barcelona advanced with a 5-3 aggregate score, securing a place in the semifinals against Bayern Munich or Inter Milan. Dortmund, for its part, saw an undefeated streak of 24 matches come to an end.
Raphinha, visibly exhausted, joined his teammates to greet the 3,000 culé fans in attendance. However, the celebration was subdued, reflecting the team’s disappointment despite the achievement.
There wasn’t a great atmosphere in the dressing room. Only when I told them ‘Guys, we’re in the semi-finals’ did they perk up a bit. But, of course, that’s what the team expects of itself. They want to win every match. Today they are a little disappointed.
Hansi Flick
Coach Hansi Flick, although he acknowledged the disappointment, preferred to highlight the positive aspects. The team leads LaLiga by four points, has a Copa del Rey final to play, and has already won the Spanish Super Cup.
The performance in Dortmund served as a warning for the challenges ahead, including the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on April 26 and potential Champions League semi-final clashes. The team, which was not a favorite at the beginning of the season, has exceeded expectations thanks to the good performance of players like Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal.
The absence of key players such as Alejandro Balde, Iñigo Martínez, and Pedri seemed to affect the team in Dortmund. The atmosphere in the stadium, fueled by the Dortmund fans, generated an intense match from the start. Despite the efforts of players like Pau Cubarsí and Ronald Araújo, the team suffered.
The first half, with a score of 1-0 in favor of Dortmund, was a relief for Barcelona. However, Guirassy’s goal at the beginning of the second half intensified the match. Although Ramy Bensebaini himself scored an own goal, a new goal by Guirassy kept the pressure on Barcelona.
Several players did not perform at their highest level, including Szczęsny, Koundé, Araújo, Fermín López, and Yamal. Raphinha also did not show his best form, and the absence of Pedri was felt in the control of the game. Koundé admitted that the team did not show the level of the first leg and that they made too many mistakes.
I am disappointed with how we played. We lacked everything we showed in the first leg: pressing, closing passing lanes. We were not good enough.
Jules Koundé
Flick, however, preferred to focus on the positive, highlighting the team’s overall performance this season. The coach emphasized the success of being in the Champions League semi-finals and the importance of maintaining a positive attitude.
Barcelona have raised their expectations and the result in Dortmund will be seen as a misstep or a sign that the team still has work to do. The immediate future is crucial for the team.
