Champions League: Barcelona Advances to Semifinals Despite Serhou Guirassy's Hat-Trick
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Synopsis
In a thrilling match, Serhou Guirassy's hat-trick for Borussia Dortmund couldn't secure a comeback against Barcelona, who advanced to the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2019 after a 5-3 aggregate victory.
Key Takeaways
- Barcelona FC returns to the semifinals after 5 years.
- Serhou Guirassy scored a remarkable hat-trick.
- Dortmund's efforts fell short despite a strong performance.
- The match highlighted Barcelona's resilience under pressure.
- Guirassy's penalty showcased his skill and confidence.
Dortmund, April 16 (NationPress) Serhou Guirassy's remarkable hat-trick in a 3-1 win wasn't sufficient for Borussia Dortmund to secure a historic comeback, as Barcelona FC moved on to the semifinals for the first time since 2019, despite facing their first defeat across all competitions this season.
Having already secured an early penalty, they surged to a 2-0 advantage shortly after halftime before Barça managed to reduce the deficit with an own goal.
Dortmund then found the net again, creating a tense finish for the Catalans, but they ultimately held firm against the relentless home side to celebrate a 5-3 aggregate victory, marking their return to the Champions League semifinals after five years of setbacks.
Dortmund started strong, showcasing their determination to create history. Guirassy, Maximilian Beier, and Daniel Svensson all tested visiting goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny within two minutes early in the match, with Karim Adeyemi nearly setting up the spirited Guirassy for a close-range effort shortly after.
The Guinea international was presented with a penalty opportunity after Pascal Gross was fouled by Szczesny, and he converted with a beautifully executed Panenka kick down the center.
The Blaugrana keeper was well-positioned to thwart headers from Ramy Bensebaini and Beier, as well as a precise strike from Adeyemi, while the Bundesliga side maintained their attacking momentum in a dominant first-half performance, according to UEFA.
The break did not disrupt BVB's offensive flow, as Adeyemi and Gross forced Szczesny into action just two minutes into the second half.
Hope for a dramatic comeback surged moments later when Bensebaini delivered a powerful header at the far post to redirect Svensson's deep corner, allowing Guirassy to nod in from close range.
Dortmund applied pressure on the Barcelona defense and narrowed the aggregate gap again when Guirassy struck the ball into the net after a clearance from Ronald Araújo landed perfectly at his feet, completing his hat-trick.
Despite the excitement of Guirassy's treble, Dortmund couldn't create more opportunities to etch their name in the annals of memorable Champions League comebacks.
