DORTMUND, Germany — There was nearly a reluctance from Barcelona‘s gamers to go and rejoice with their supporters on Tuesday after reaching a primary UEFA Champions League semifinal since 2019. The satisfaction of transferring into the ultimate 4 was contrasted with what had been a humbling 3-1 defeat towards Borussia Dortmund, with the competitors’s new top-scorer Serhou Guirassy stealing the present, if not fairly the tie in the long run, with a hat trick.
This tie appeared performed and dusted final week when Barça received 4-0 on the Olympic Stadium, however they performed with hearth right here. Guirassy’s treble was not sufficient to knock them out, however there had been fleeting moments through the recreation when previous European capitulations, towards AS Roma and Liverpool, have been current.
Ultimately, they held on, successful 5-3 on mixture to arrange a semifinal towards both Bayern Munich or Internazionale. And Dortmund have been by no means really inside one purpose of Barcelona, however they suffered just a few jabs alongside the way in which as they misplaced for the primary time in 2025, a 24-game unbeaten streak ended and some doubts seeded.
A number of minutes after the ultimate whistle, Raphinha, worn out, picked himself up off the pitch. He joined his teammates in entrance of the three,000 travelling Barça followers. The celebrations, although, have been subdued for a staff that had lastly put a membership that has fallen twice into the UEFA Europa League in recent times again onto the continent’s greatest stage.
Coach Hansi Flick stated that temper continued down the tunnel.
“There wasn’t an excellent ambiance within the dressing room,” Flick stated in a information convention. “It was solely once I informed them ‘Lads, we’re into the semifinal’ that it lifted a bit. However, in fact, that’s what the staff expects of itself. They need to win each recreation. At the moment they’re a little bit disenchanted.”
Flick didn’t need to dwell on the damaging. He stated he’ll analyse the match within the coming days. He wished to place the main focus firmly on what this younger squad has performed to this point this season. Not solely are they into the semifinal, however they lead LaLiga by 4 factors, have a Copa del Rey last to come back, and have already received the Spanish Supercopa.
Nonetheless, it is inevitable that Tuesday’s show in Dortmund might be seen as a warning forward of larger assessments on the horizon: a Clásico Copa last towards Actual Madrid on April 26, adopted by both Bayern or Inter Milan over two legs for a spot in what could be a primary Champions League last since they final received the competitors in 2015.
It is regular that there are nonetheless inquiries to be requested. Nobody anticipated Barça to be the place they’re now firstly of the season after a trophy-less yr final outing. Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal have been the most effective assault in Europe, scoring 82 targets between them, and firing Barça this far within the Champions League.
However with out the injured Alejandro Balde, changed by rookie Gerard Martín, and with Iñigo Martínez and Pedri rested, Barça wobbled within the early phases towards Dortmund.
With the 24,454-capacity Südtribüne — higher generally known as The Yellow Wall — driving Dortmund on, as pyrotechnics from the away finish rained down on the house supporters, there have been early fireworks on the pitch. Final-gasp clearances from Pau Cubarsí and Ronald Araújo have been the precursors to a penalty, given away by Wojciech Szczesny and dispatched by Guirassy.
Attending to 1-0 at half-time appeared like a win for Barça, with Dortmund’s xG (anticipated targets) after 45 minutes 2.05 to the Blaugrana’s paltry 0.02. The hosts wanted an early purpose after the break, although, to essentially ignite the tie and it arrived when Guirassy headed in on the far put up from a nook which Barça didn’t defend correctly.
Ramy Bensebaini‘s personal purpose shortly after appeared to have ended their hopes however Guirassy struck once more, capitalising on an Araújo error to web his thirteenth purpose within the Champions League this season and provides Dortmund over quarter-hour to seek out two extra targets. They didn’t discover them, however Barça have been wobbling, with drained legs and doubts of their minds.
It was an evening when few gamers earned a move. Szczęsny was sluggish for the penalty, Jules Koundé often misjudged Barça’s excessive line of defense, Araújo made errors, Fermín López misplaced his capturing boots and Yamal seemed, at instances, like a 17-year-old beginning his seventh recreation in 20 days. Raphinha has additionally not fairly been at his finest because the worldwide break, whereas the management normally equipped by the rested Pedri was an enormous miss till his introduction.
“I’m delighted to be within the semifinal, however I’m disenchanted with how we performed,” defender Kounde informed reporters. “We lacked every thing we displayed within the first leg: urgent, closing passing lanes. We weren’t adequate.
“We made too many errors. Flick informed us we had to enhance within the second half and possibly we did barely. Now we simply must hold doing what has taken us this far this season. We will not cease doing what we have performed till now.”
Flick was in a position to step again from the mayhem of Sign Iduna Park, which have been 90 minutes of a a lot bigger image this season.
“What’s vital is that we’re within the semifinal,” he stated. “We now have to view issues positively. What the staff has performed is phenomenal. Each day because the worldwide break they’ve been able to play, coaching at a excessive degree and with a extremely skilled perspective.
“At the moment we did not present what we would like. We’ll analyse that, however we’ve got improved this season. We’re nonetheless in three competitions. We’re within the Champions League semifinal. It is a large success and one thing we needs to be very glad about.”
The bar has been raised at Barça, although. The expectations firstly of the season are usually not what they’re now. You solely needed to see that ‘Barça are again’ banners round Dortmund on Tuesday to see the thrill brewing among the many fanbase. Tuesday’s end result will both be considered as a bump alongside the street to success or an indication that this staff nonetheless has strides to make to finish its comeback.
As Flick says, what comes subsequent is what’s vital now.
