Borussia Dortmund Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona may have appeared one-sided on aggregate, but the second leg was a far more intense and closely contested affair than the 5-3 scoreline suggests. Serhou Guirassy’s hat-trick for Dortmund brought the German side tantalizingly close to an upset, but an own goal from Ramy Bensebaini ultimately proved decisive.
Dortmund’s high-intensity pressing game caused Barcelona significant problems, particularly in the opening 20 minutes. Guirassy converted a penalty in the ninth minute after Pascal Gross was fouled by Wojciech Szczesny, and the home side had five efforts on target before the half-hour mark. Barcelona’s decision to rest Pedri, their midfield maestro, seemed questionable, as the team struggled to assert their usual dominance.
However, as the half progressed, Barcelona began to gain a foothold, and by halftime, they seemed to have a measure of control. The second half began with another Dortmund surge, and Guirassy doubled his tally with a header from close range. Nevertheless, Barcelona’s fortunes changed when Fermin López’s cross was deflected into his own net by Bensebaini.
“We had a feeling something like that would happen today because I know the stadium well,” said Barcelona manager Hansi Flick. “Things didn’t go too well for us, but Dortmund played very well. The things we played out weren’t what we normally do.” Flick’s comments highlighted the difficulties his team faced in dealing with Dortmund’s intense pressing and the spaces left behind their defensive line.
Despite the victory, Barcelona’s performance raised doubts about their potential championship credentials. Their high-risk game leaves them vulnerable to more precise opponents, and Dortmund’s 18 shots on Tuesday highlighted the flaws in their defensive setup. As defender Ronald Araújo noted, “There are things we need to correct, but we’re in the semi-finals. I’m happy because at another time, this game would have slipped away from us.”
The match exposed vulnerabilities in Barcelona’s defensive setup, particularly their high defensive line and vulnerability to quick counter-attacks. These weaknesses could be exploited by their future opponents, making it essential for Flick’s side to address these issues as they push for the title. With potential semi-final opponents Inter Milan or Bayern Munich likely to capitalize on these flaws, Barcelona will need to fine-tune their performance to progress further in the competition.