Barcelona survive Dortmund thriller to reach Champions League semi-finals | OneFootball

Barcelona are into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2019, but their progress was anything but serene.

A 3-1 defeat at the Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday night did not undo the 4-0 lead they had secured at home, yet it offered a stark reminder of the risks that still define Hansi Flick’s side.

While the aggregate scoreline suggests a relatively smooth passage, the second leg raised more doubts than it silenced.

Borussia Dortmund, so passive and disjointed in the first leg, finally delivered a performance worthy of the occasion. Serhou Guirassy scored a hat-trick and led a display brimming with energy and aggression, traits that had been conspicuously absent a week earlier.

The hosts disrupted Barcelona’s build-up play, forced errors in midfield and carved out good opportunities, particularly in a frantic opening period in which they managed five efforts on target within the first 20 minutes.

Flick’s side, once again deploying an aggressive high line, looked open and vulnerable under pressure. The pace of Karim Adeyemi on the left repeatedly stretched the visitors, while the midfield struggled to maintain composure.

The tie might have taken a more dangerous turn had Ramy Bensebaini not turned a Fermin Lopez cross into his own net just five minutes after Guirassy had made it 2-0 on the night.

The own goal steadied Barcelona momentarily, but Guirassy’s third, converted from close range with 14 minutes left, exposed fresh nerves. Julian Brandt nearly added a fourth moments later, only to be denied by the offside flag.

Barcelona may have restored a three-goal aggregate cushion by full-time, but their limitations were exposed again. Flick’s style — defined by high pressing and positional risks — has brought results domestically, yet it leaves the team vulnerable against opponents capable of exploiting space in transition.

The German coach acknowledged the shortcomings in his post-match press conference, admitting: “We did not have one of our better days. We played against an excellent side in Borussia Dortmund, who made life impossible for us.”

Still, he was quick to shift focus to the bigger picture. “We are through the tie and that was our objective. It’s fantastic for the club to be in the semi-finals. We have to look at the positives and not the negatives.”

That may be true for now, but for any of Inter or Bayern watching, there was plenty to dissect. Barcelona are still in the competition, but after this second-leg wobble, few would consider them among the most convincing contenders.