Brave Borussia Dortmund beat Barcelona but exit UEFA Champions League
Serhou Guirassy scored a hat-trick but Borussia Dortmund exited this season’s UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage, despite a valiant 3-1 win in their second leg against Barcelona at Signal Iduna Park, losing 5-3 on aggregate.
Niko Kovač’s charges got the early goal they hoped for as they endeavoured to cancel out Barcelona’s 4-0 advantage from the first leg, with Serhou Guirassy dinking in an audacious panenka penalty in the 11th minute after a foul by Wojciech Szczęsny on Pascal Groß. The midfielder had the ball in the net himself moments later as Dortmund tried to beat the offside trap set by the visitors’ high defensive line, but it was rightly ruled out. Ramy Bensebaini then had a free header from a corner that he directed straight at Szczęsny as Dortmund tried to build momentum, but Barcelona retained a threat at the opposite end of the pitch, with Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, in particular, regularly finding space down the left. Szczęsny denied Karim Adeyemi after an impressive run and shot but there were no further goals before the interval, leaving Dortmund needing three second-half goals to take the tie to extra time.
And boy did they go for them. Adeyemi had a shot blocked following a surge of pace into the box early on, with Groß twice denied on the follow-up. Guirassy pulled a goal back from the ensuing corner, nodding in at the back post from Bensebaini’s flick-on. The Signal Iduna Park erupted as the flicker of hope for a comeback for the ages grew, but Barcelona doused it shortly afterwards when Bensebaini turned the ball into his own net when trying to clear Fermin López’s cross from the right. Nevertheless, the spark soon reignited and after Guirassy completed his hat-trick following brilliant play from substitute Julien Duranville, a grandstand finale ensued. Julian Brandt thought he had scored only for it to be disallowed for offside, and despite BVB's lung-busting efforts to further reduce the deficit, Barcelona clung on to stumble into the semi-finals at Dortmund's expense.
Match stats
Guirassy is now top of this season’s Champions League scoring charts on 13 goals, one ahead of Barcelona's Raphinha (12).
In addition to former Dortmund and Bayern forward Lewandowski, Marc-André ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen (both Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig) have all previously plied their trade in the Bundesliga.
Flick replaced Kovač as Bayern coach in November 2019 and went on to steer them to a treble that same season.
This was BVB's first competitive win over Barcelona, having previously drawn two and lost four.
Lewandowski scored 103 goals in 187 competitive appearances for Dortmund between 2010 and 2014.
Flick lost his perfect record against Dortmund as a head coach, losing for the first time following seven wins from his first seven (five whilst in charge of Bayern).
Champions League Quarter-final, second leg Quarter-final, second leg Signal Iduna Park
Full-time: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Barcelona
Dortmund can go out of the competition with their heads held high as they become the first team to beat Barcelona in 2025. BVB gave it everything over the 90 minutes and dared to dream thanks to a hat-trick from Guirassy. Bensebaini's own goal stung Dortmund in the middle of the second half, but the Black-Yellows didn't let it keep them down. At any rate, their performance tonight should inspire them to a strong finish to the Bundesliga season, but it's Barcelona who progress through to the semi-finals, winning 5-3 on aggregate.
It's won after a Groß shot was deflected behind. The corner is taken short to Brandt, but the German's cross is overhit and goes behind for a goal-kick.
90'
Added time
Four additional minutes are indicated. Can Dortmund pull off the impossible here?
Barcelona take a short corner on the right and after some nice combination play, Koundé is sent to the byline. The Frenchman digs out a cross, finding García at the far post, but the substitutes effort is wide of the left post.
79'
Offside!
What drama here! Substitute Brandt is played in behind, beating Szczęsny in a one-on-one. Signal Iduna Park erupts, but the assistant had his flag raised...
Dortmund haven't given in yet. Duranville does excellently down the right wing to keep the ball in before beating his marker and firing a cross into the box. It's a terrible clearance from Araújo, who plays it straight to Guirassy, allowing the Guinean to smash it into the roof of the net from point-blank range. After a lengthy VAR check, the goal stands.
The winger brings down a switch of play with an excellent first touch before cutting in off the right flank and shooting towards the near post. It's an awkward one for Kobel, who could've been wrong-footed, but gets down well to save to his left.
71'
Barcelona taking control
The last few minutes have seen Barcelona dominate possession, and even with Dortmund's fresh legs, the hosts are still chasing the game. A double change to bring on García and Torres seems like a bid to consolidate their lead.
It's another good delivery from the left-back, but this time Barcelona head it clear.
65'
Double change
Niko Kovač opts for a double substitution as Dortmund continue to chase the game. Their energy levels had just dropped a bit in the last five minutes, so they'll be hoping that Duranville and Reyna can jumpstart them into life again.
Not for the first time this evening, the Dortmund youngster is found in space on the edge of the Barcelona box. Shifting the ball onto his right foot, he lets fly at the near post, sending it narrowly wide of the post. Some of the crowd thought that had gone in, which tells you it really wasn't far away!
59'
First change
It's Hansi Flick who's the first of the managers to go to the bench, bringing Pedri on for Gavi.
The wind has been taken out of the Yellow Wall's sails after that one. López picks the ball up wide on the right flank and fizzes a low cross into the middle. It's heading for Lewandowski, but Bensebaini, in trying to clear the danger, pokes it past Kobel and into his own net.
Barcelona's teenage sensation cuts in off the right flank and lets a left-footed shot fly. It's deflected behind for a corner, which Barcelona don't manage to capitalise upon.
49'
Guirassy at the double!
Svensson takes the resultant corner. He finds Bensebaini at the far post, who heads it back across goal to Guirassy. The Guinean rises highest to head home from close range. Dortmund have showed no signs of slowing in the second half. They couldn't, could they?
Groß wins it in the middle of the park. He plays it to Adeyemi, who beats Koundé for pace before shooting. His effort is palmed away by Szczęsny into the path of Groß, who hits the follow-up, but it's deflected behind for a corner.
46'
Back underway!
Dortmund get the ball rolling for the final half of the tie. Both sides emerge from their dressing rooms unchanged. BVB will attack the famous Yellow Wall for the final 45 here.
Kick-off!
Half-time: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Barcelona
What an electrifying half! Dortmund flew out of the gates with a point to prove, taking the lead through Guirassy after just over 10 minutes played. Lifted by the opener, the Black-Yellows continued to search for another, but for all of their dominance, the final ball has lacked just a little bit of quality. Barcelona have been on the defensive for most of the half, but there will be questions over whether Dortmund can sustain this breakneck tempo over the 90 minutes.
Guirassy releases Beier down the right. The youngster storms forward. Adeyemi was unmarked in the middle, but Beier's cross is deflected behind for a corner. Svensson takes, but BVB can't make anything of it beyond another corner.
39'
Koundé!
A golden opportunity for the visitors: De Jong whips a venomous cross in from the left, finding Koundé at the far post. The full-back is unmarked, but opts to take a touch rather than hitting it first-time, allowing Kobel to get across and dive on the ball. If he had hit it first-time...
37'
Real opportunity
Adeyemi is played in behind the Barcelona backline through the left channel. It looks as though he'll have a one-on-one, but a fantastic recovery run from Koundé prevents him from playing an easy square pass to Guirassy. Instead, he has to shoot, connecting with it well and forcing Szczęsny to punch it, but the chance goes begging.
36'
First booking
That had been coming. The game has been getting more and more physical as the half has gone on. De Jong is the first to go into the book following a late challenge on Nmecha.
Some lovely football from Barcelona sees Raphinha released clear through in the Dortmund box by Lewandowski. In trying to set himself for a shot, however, he allows time for Dortmund players to recover, and it's Groß who gets a foot in to end the danger. That was a real chance for the visitors...
30'
Beier heads it
Following a foul on Couto in a good position on the right for Dortmund, Groß takes the resultant free-kick. His whipped ball finds Beier on the edge of the six-yard box, who guides the header goalwards, but it's straight at Szczęsny again.
Game settling
After Dortmund's lightning-fast start, the game is finding more of a steady rhythm now. That being said, Couto has been an ever-present option and has looked really lively down the right flank.
Anton gives it away at the back for Dortmund. Lewandowski plays it left to López, who's through on goal on the left, but his effort is rifled into the side netting. The assistant's flag was raised, however, and would've spared Anton's blushes had López managed to finish.
22'
In from Raphinha
The winger takes a free-kick from the left. Barcelona win the initial header at the far post, but Dortmund get it away to the edge of the box. It drops for Yamal, who tries to play López through, but it's overhit and trickles behind for a goal-kick.
20'
Another corner
Adeyemi's cross is deflected off Koundé for a corner. Pascal Groß takes an in-swinger from the left, finding Bensebaini at the far post. The defender connects well with the header, but it's straight at the keeper.
Composure lads, composure
Guirassy was the coolest man in the stadium when he stepped up to take the penalty to make it 1-0.
Nmecha slips it through the middle for Pascal Groß to chase. Thanks to Barcelona's incredibly high line, the German international has a one-on-one with Szczęsny, finishing calmly past the Barcelona keeper, but the assistant had their flag raised and it won't count.
15'
Swept up
Yamal runs at a couple of Dortmund defenders. A deflection off an attempted tackle falls kindly for the winger and he keeps driving forwards until Süle puts a stop to it.
11'
Cool as you like
Guirassy steps up to take the penalty, and with ice in his veins, sends Szczęsny diving to his right before chipping it down the middle. A perfect panenka and a perfect start for Dortmund!
What a start to the game! Adeyemi slips Groß through into the box. The German gets to the ball ahead of Szczęsny, and the Barcelona goalkeeper brings him down. After a VAR check, the penalty is confirmed!
7'
Guirassy again!
Dortmund have started brilliantly here. This time, Adeyemi manages to get a shot away inside the left side of the box. It's mishit, but drops for Guirassy, who had been on the floor. The striker tries to direct it goalwards, but again, a Barcelona defender is there to get a block in and clear.
5'
Nearly the opener!
Adeyemi leads a counter charge for Dortmund through the middle. He slips it out wide for Svensson, who hits a low cross into the middle for Guirassy at the six-yard box. The striker's shot is blocked and it nearly drops to Beier for the rebound, but Barcelona scramble it away.
4'
Speculative
After an opening spell where both teams were sizing each other up, Beier pounces on a misplaced pass in the midfield. He has one thing in his mind: to shoot. He hits an effort from 30 yards, but it's straight at the goalkeeper.
1'
Peeep!
It's Barcelona who get the ball rolling here at a very lively Signal Iduna Park.
Kick-off!
5:45
Watch: All of Robert Lewandowski’s Bundesliga goals for Dortmund
The former Dortmund star is leading the Barcelona line once again tonight. Take a look back at his hugely successful spell at Signal Iduna Park.
Blast from the past
Former Schalke, Hamburg and Germany defender Heiko Westermann grabs a pre-game selfie from the pitch. The 41-year-old is now one of Hansi Flick's assistant coaches at Barcelona.
Barcelona's players may be used to playing in front of large crowds, but even for them the impressive Signal Iduna Park atmosphere is something to record for posterity.
Niko Kovač likewise makes four changes to his side that held Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw in Der Klassiker at the weekend. Bensebaini, Couto, Nmecha and Adeyemi come in for Can (hip injury), Ryerson, Özcan, and Brandt (all benched). Chukwuemeka misses out with a thigh complaint, joining Sabitzer and Schlotterbeck on the sidelines.
Barcelona team news
Hansi Flick makes four changes to his starting line-up at the weekend which saw Barcelona triumph 1-0 away at CD Leganes. Cubarsí, Martín, Gavi, and De Jong all come in for Martínez, García, Pedri (all benched), and Baldé, who misses out with a thigh injury.
Check out all of Maxi Beier's eight goals and five assists in the Bundesliga this campaign - the young striker is having a superb debut season for Dortmund. After hitting the opener in last weekend's 2-2 Klassiker draw with Bayern, he showed he has the knack - and the nerve - to score in the big games. BVB fans will certainly be hoping he can do more of the same against Barcelona...
Dortmund team news
As for Dortmund, they must make do without the services of Mané (muscular), Sabitzer (knee) and Schlotterbeck (knee). Their attack will be led by Serhou Guirassy (pictured), who has only been outscored in the Champions League this season by that aforementioned Barca pair. It looks a shootout between Maximilian Beier and Karim Adeyemi to partner Guirassy in attack.
The visitors' injury-list reads as: Baldé (thigh), Bernal (knee), Casadó (knee), Olmo (groin), Ter Stegen (knee). Alejandro Baldé was the latest loss to injury, with former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick likely to turn to Gerard Martín at left-back. Ex-Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski (11 UCL goals this term, pictured) and tournament top scorer Raphinha (12) will need to be kept quiet.
Of course, we all know Robert Lewandowski played for both of this evening's quarter-finalists, but can you guess the other six players to have donned both shirts in the past? Have a brief think before clicking here to find out!
"There are always miracles, but we also know that Barcelona haven't lost a competitive game yet this year. We are aware of the situation. We want to show a completely different face to what we presented in the first leg and win the game."
"Playing against Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals and especially in this stadium is always going to be a really difficult task. That's why we have to be 100 per cent focused. We want to play a good game not only for ourselves, but also for our travelling fans, who always support us."
Let's face it, Dortmund need something of a miracle if they are to turn their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona on its head, but the Black-and-Yellows can count on a 12th man this evening in the form of the always mighty support inside the Signal Iduna Park! Take the stadium tour with us.
Four-goal comeback
Dortmund are 4-0 down from the first leg and have a mountain to climb, but they can take inspiration from their opponents. In 2016/17, Barcelona became the first team to fight back from four goals down to win a Champions League tie, winning 6-1 at home against Paris Saint-Germain in what became known as La Remontada (The Comeback).
Dortmund haven't had their greatest season but a huge plus point has been the combined form of forwards Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier. Watch them tearing Bundesliga defences apart here.
Sharpshooters
In terms of Champions League goals, Barcelona duo Robert Lewandowski (11) and Raphinha (12) are leading the way in this season's competition.
Dortmund marksman Serhou Guirassy is joint-third in this season’s Champions League scoring charts on 10 goals, level with Bayern’s Harry Kane. He also has four assists to his name in 13 appearances so far this season.
Dortmund's last fixture before this clash saw them draw 2-2 against Bayern in a Bundesliga Klassiker. The game swung wildly from start to finish as Dortmund took the lead before rescuing a draw in the second half.
And then there were three
From seven clubs in September, only three German teams remain in Europe this season. Find out how all the Bundesliga’s representatives have got on across the three continental competitions here.
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of the second leg of Borussia Dortmund's quarter-final tie against Barcelona in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, being played at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday.
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First-leg report
Borussia Dortmund suffered a heavy defeat to Barcelona in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg, with ex-BVB star Robert Lewandowski among the goals.
Dortmund would have been aware of the size of the challenge facing them when they arrived at the home of the Catalan giants, and yet Barcelona’s lightning-fast start in the opening 20 minutes still seemingly caught them by surprise. All the hosts’ chances initially went down Ramy Bensebaini’s side, with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal running riot. Dortmund did well to weather the initial storm, relying on the counter-attack to try and punish Barça’s incredibly high defensive line. But Barcelona managed to convert their dominance into a tangible lead after 25 minutes as a free-kick was floated into Iñigo Martínez, who nodded it down for Pau Cubarsí to poke goalwards. Raphinha came storming in at the far post for the final touch to ensure the goal, taking the lead following a VAR check. Surprisingly, it was Dortmund who were lifted by the opener, becoming the more dominant of the sides for the final 15 minutes of the half. Serhou Guirassy went close on three occasions after being teed up in good positions in the box, but each time he didn’t connect with the ball how he would’ve wanted. As such, Barça went in at the break as deserved leaders, though the Black-Yellows had not been without their chances.
Looking to build on a good end to the first half, Dortmund reemerged with renewed attacking impetus. Jamie Gittens hit a good effort shortly after the restart, but BVB’s optimism was squashed minutes later as a high ball found Raphinha at the far post, who looped it back into the six-yard box for a tap-in for Robert Lewandowski. The second goal was a blow to Dortmund’s confidence, who once again had to weather extended periods of Barcelona pressure. The hosts nearly found a third when Fermín López struck the post with a venomous strike from the edge of the box. But it wouldn’t be long before Barcelona would strike again as a quick counter-attack from a Dortmund corner saw López tee up Lewandowski, who smashed it past Gregor Kobel from inside the box to make it three. Barcelona’s ruthless efficiency came to the fore again as they pounced on a loose ball from Julian Brandt in midfield before Raphinha drove up the pitch and set up Yamal for a fourth. Dortmund poured forward in search of any kind of a response, and though Maximilian Beier found the back of the net in the dying embers, it was ruled out for offside.
