Barcelona Stumble Into Champions League Semifinals as Unbeaten Run Ends

Date: April 15, 2025
Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
Result: Borussia Dortmund 3 – 1 Barcelona (Aggregate: 3-5)
Competition: UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals – 2nd Leg

🧭 Introduction

For the first time since 2019, FC Barcelona are back in the UEFA Champions League semifinals. But their journey hasn’t been without drama. Despite a painful 3-1 defeat in the second leg against Borussia Dortmund, their emphatic 5-0 win in the first leg at Camp Nou proved enough to see them through with a 5-3 aggregate score.

Barcelona’s unbeaten run in the competition came to an end in Germany, but their European dream lives on. It was a tale of two legs: brilliance and dominance at home, followed by nerves and fragility away. Still, as history will remember, it is Barcelona — not Dortmund — who advance.

🏟️ A Night of Tension in Dortmund

Coming into the second leg, many assumed the job was already done. Barcelona’s five-goal demolition of Dortmund in the first leg had almost guaranteed them a place in the semifinals. However, Borussia Dortmund had other plans.

Backed by a roaring Signal Iduna Park crowd, the German side came out with aggression, pressing high and moving the ball with urgency. Serhou Guirassy, Dortmund’s star striker, delivered an incredible hat-trick, putting immense pressure on the visitors.

For Barcelona, the match was a rude awakening. Defensive lapses, midfield turnovers, and a lack of control allowed Dortmund to believe in the impossible. If not for Barcelona’s away goal through Raphinha in the second half, the result could’ve been catastrophic for the Spanish side.

🧠 Tactical Analysis

⚙️ Barcelona’s Set-Up

Barcelona started with a more conservative setup, opting to protect their lead rather than extend it. Xavi Hernández, who has come under scrutiny in big European matches, fielded a midfield-heavy lineup to try and control the pace of the game. However, the absence of intensity and clear passing patterns allowed Dortmund to take control early on.

Key Issues:

• Lack of pressing intensity compared to the first leg
• Defensive vulnerabilities on the counterattack
• Difficulty breaking Dortmund’s high press

🔥 Dortmund’s Courageous Comeback Attempt

Borussia Dortmund, under coach Edin Terzić, played with nothing to lose. Guirassy was a constant threat up front, and wingers Karim Adeyemi and Donyell Malen continuously stretched Barcelona’s backline.

The German side’s biggest success came from their relentless pressing, which disrupted Barcelona’s build-up play and forced errors. If they had capitalized on more of their chances, the tie might have gone to extra time.

🌟 Standout Performances

✅ Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)

• 3 goals
• Nearly dragged his team back into the tie singlehandedly
• Intelligent positioning and ruthless finishing

✅ Raphinha (Barcelona)

• 1 vital away goal
• Barcelona’s most dangerous forward on the night
• Helped relieve pressure with his dribbling and pace

✅ Ronald Araújo (Barcelona)

• Despite the chaos, he was Barcelona’s most composed defender
• Made crucial blocks and interceptions to prevent a fourth Dortmund goal

📉 Barcelona’s Unbeaten Run Ends

Until this match, Barcelona were unbeaten in this season’s Champions League, with impressive wins over Napoli, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Porto. However, the loss in Dortmund highlighted that while they are improving, they are still vulnerable—especially in high-pressure away fixtures.

The defeat also ends a 14-game unbeaten run across all competitions, and it serves as a stark reminder that the road to European glory is rarely smooth.

🏆 Semifinal Bound – What’s Next?

Barcelona now awaits the outcome of the other quarterfinal ties, with potential semifinal opponents including:

• Real Madrid or Arsenal
• Inter Milan or Bayern Munich

Regardless of who they face, the semifinals will be a massive test for Xavi’s side. The last time Barcelona reached this stage was in 2019, when they famously collapsed against Liverpool at Anfield. Avoiding a repeat of such a scenario will be top priority.

🗣️ Post-Match Reactions

Xavi Hernández (Barcelona Head Coach):
“We suffered today, but this is the Champions League. The first leg gave us a cushion, but we need to learn from this performance. We’re in the semifinals — that’s what matters.”

Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund striker):
“We gave everything. I’m proud of the team. Scoring a hat-trick is special, but it hurts when it’s not enough to qualify.”

📝 Final Thoughts

Barcelona’s journey to the Champions League semifinals might not have been perfect, but it shows a team rediscovering its identity. Despite defensive flaws and a shaky night in Dortmund, they did enough to survive.

With world-class talent, tactical versatility, and lessons learned, Barcelona will now look to reach their first Champions League final in a decade. If they can blend their attacking brilliance with better defensive composure, the trophy could be within reach.

But for now, they celebrate — not for winning the match, but for surviving the storm.