DORTMUND, Germany – Barcelona coach Hansi Flick had to remind his visibly disappointed players that they had reached the Champions League semi-finals, after the 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
Serhou Guirassy’s hat-trick broke Barça’s 24-match unbeaten run since the start of 2025 at a raucous Signal Iduna Park. However, the Catalans won the tie with a 5-3 aggregate score, thanks to a 4-0 victory in the first leg.
This is the first time Barça has reached the semi-finals since 2019, and they will face Bayern Munich or Inter Milan in the next round.
I think everyone here recognizes and appreciates the team’s performance this season. Today was not our best game. I understand the questions about it, but I think we still have reasons to be happy.
Hansi Flick
Flick commented that the atmosphere in the locker room was not the best, and it only improved when he reminded his players that they were in the semifinals. The coach understands the players’ disappointment, as they always seek to win every match, but emphasized the importance of celebrating the achievement of advancing to the next phase.
Flick left Pedri and Iñigo Martínez on the bench in Dortmund, while Alejandro Balde missed the match due to injury. The home team, spurred on by an incredible atmosphere, started strongly.
Guirassy opened the scoring from the penalty spot at the beginning of the match and headed a second goal after the break, fueling the hope of an improbable comeback.
An own goal by Ramy Bensebaini seemed to seal the tie, but Guirassy scored again to ensure an exciting finish.
Barça held on and Flick considered that they deserved the victory in both matches.
We played two matches. We won the first one 4-0, and here we lost 3-1. I think we deserved to reach the semi-final. Dortmund made things difficult for us. The atmosphere was extraordinary, but we are in the final four.
Hansi Flick
Flick also added that it is important to analyze the match, but that it is normal for performance to drop after so many matches. He was satisfied with the team and its performance this season, highlighting that they are still competing in three competitions and are in the Champions League semi-finals.
Barcelona will now face two consecutive LaLiga matches at home against Celta de Vigo and Mallorca, as they look to maintain their four-point lead at the top of the table.
Subsequently, they will face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on April 26. Defender Jules Koundé expressed his desire to quickly correct the mistakes made in Dortmund.
I am very happy to be in the semi-final, but disappointed with our performance. We lacked everything we did well in the first leg: pressing, closing passing lanes. We were not up to the task today. We made mistakes, we switched off. Flick told us we had to improve at halftime. Perhaps we did a little in the second half.
Jules Koundé
Koundé emphasized the need to move forward and maintain the work done during the season, highlighting the importance of being happy with the team’s effort.
