FC Barcelona secure a place in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2019 after a “scary” loss in Dortmund

Barcelona advance to semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2019.

FC Barcelona booked their tickets for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals as they managed to edge past Borussia Dortmund with an aggregate of 5-3 despite the German side’s best efforts to complete a turnaround.

Hansi Flick’s team lacked composure in front of the famous Yellow Wall of the Signal Iduna Park and appeared to have succumbed to the pressure created by the home crowd, who created a very hostile environment for the visitors.

However, despite the scare, Barcelona secured a spot in the semi-finals of the prestigious competition for the first time since 2019, where they were knocked out by Liverpool in what is arguably the greatest ever comeback in the history of the Champions League.

Barcelona vs Dortmund: As it happened

The match began in an unconvincing manner for the visitors as their veteran goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny, gave away a cheap penalty after having caught Pascal Gross’ ankle inside the six-yard box. Dortmund’s man of the night, Serhou Guirassy, converted the penalty with a cheeky panenka, giving his side the perfect start in the second leg.

Barcelona did try to respond to BVB’s early blow by applying pressure via their high line and creating a couple of major goal-scoring opportunities. However, their dynamic front three failed to convert any of the chances, as it looked like a night-off for the trio.

Borussia Dortmund hammered another massive blow to the Catalan giants in the beginning embers of the second half, with Guirassy scoring yet again to make the comeback appear within a closing distance for the hosts.

However, Barcelona did not take long to put out Dortmund’s fire, as they opened their scoresheet in the 54th minute with Fermin Lopez’s teasing delivery into the six-yard box ending up at the back of the net following an own goal from Dortmund’s star defender Ramy Bensebaini.

Bensebaini’s costly error was the major deciding point of the tie as the visitors got the goal that they desperately wanted to take away the energy and enthusiasm from their opponents, as the goal restored Barcelona’s 3-goal lead.

Guirassy’s third goal in the 76th minute did spark some hope amongst the Dortmund supporters, but it ended merely to be just a consolation goal.

Despite a tough fight from Dortmund and especially Guirassy, Hansi Flick and his men emerged victorious in the tie by an aggregate score of 5-3 and will face the mighty Inter Milan in the semi-finals.