Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund: Champions League thriller 2025

The UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg between Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund brought football fans to the peak of excitement. Although Dortmund won 3-1 in this match at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund on April 15, 2025, Barcelona maintained a 5-3 aggregate lead and secured a place in the semi-finals. A hat-trick from Serhou Guirassi and Barcelona’s defensive determination made this match unforgettable.

First leg background

Barcelona had defeated Dortmund 4-0 in the first leg at the Camp Nou. Excellent performances from Rafinha, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski (two goals) gave Barcelona a strong lead. This result put Dortmund under pressure to produce a miracle performance in the second leg. The atmosphere was heated even before the match, with the “Yellow Wall” of Dortmund fans and the team’s enthusiasm.

The start of the match: Dortmund’s aggression

Dortmund adopted an aggressive strategy within a few minutes of the start of the match. In the ninth minute, Serhou Guirassi scored to give Dortmund a 1-0 lead. The goal sent a wave of excitement among the home fans and put Barcelona under pressure from the start. Guirassi’s goal was scored by Karim Adeyemi’s pass. Dortmund tried to exploit the weakness of Barcelona’s high line.

In the first half, Dortmund constantly challenged Barcelona’s defense. Pascal Gross had a chance to score in the 15th minute, but he was ruled offside. In the 22nd minute, Adeyemi’s powerful shot was saved by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Barcelona failed to score in the first half, but they showed defensive discipline to maintain their overall lead. Ronald Araujo and Pau Kuberci played key roles in stopping Dortmund’s attacks.

Second half: Guiracsi’s hat-trick and Barcelona’s response

Dortmund intensified their attacking style in the second half. Guiracsi headed home a corner kick in the 46th minute, making it 2–0. The goal created a buzz at Signal Iduna Park, and Dortmund fans began to hope for a miracle. However, Barcelona responded in the 51st minute. Dortmund’s Rami Bensebaini scored an own goal, making the score 2–1. The goal brought Barcelona back into the game and somewhat dented Dortmund’s morale.

Dortmund substitute Julian Duranville put in a great performance in the 76th minute, and Guiraci completed his hat-trick with his third goal. This goal gave Dortmund a 3–1 lead and made the game even more exciting. Guiraci’s hat-trick earned him man of the match. Julian Brandt scored in the 79th minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside. This moment disappointed Dortmund fans, but the team continued to attack until the last minute.

Barcelona’s defensive strength and the semi-final journey

Despite Dortmund’s intense attacks, Barcelona kept their defense strong. Szczesny’s excellent saves and the defensive duo of Araujo-Kubercy prevented Dortmund from scoring more goals. Rafinha and Lamine Yamal created a few chances in the second half, but could not score. Robert Lewandowski failed to score in the second leg, but his performance in the first leg had given Barcelona a boost.

Barcelona held on to a 5–3 aggregate lead and advanced to the semi-finals. Coach Hansi Flick said after the match, “Dortmund gave us a tough challenge, but we achieved our goal.” The win ended Barcelona’s 24-match unbeaten run in 2025, but they secured a place in the Champions League semi-final.

Key moments of the match

* 9th minute: Guirassi’s first goal, Dortmund 1–0.

* 46th minute: Guirassi’s header, Dortmund 2–0.

* 51st minute: Bensebaini’s own goal, Dortmund 2–1.

* 76th minute: Guirassi’s hat-trick, Dortmund 3–1.

* Statistics: Dortmund had 15 shots (6 on goal), Barcelona had 8 shots (2 on goal).

Conclusion

This match highlighted the excitement and unpredictability of football. A hat-trick from Guirassi, Dortmund’s passion and Barcelona’s defensive discipline made the match unforgettable. Dortmund maintained their pride by not giving up, but Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals on the strength of experience and strategy. This clash kept football fans glued to the screen until the very last minute.