Barcelona had already done the hard work at home, winning 4-0 in the first leg. But they didn’t expect such a tough second leg. Playing away at Signal Iduna Park, their 24-match unbeaten streak ended with a 3-1 loss to Dortmund.
Still, the trip back to Spain won’t feel too bad. With a 5-3 win on aggregate, Barcelona are through to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2019. It’s also their second time reaching a European semi-final since Lionel Messi left the club.
Dortmund needed a miracle to overcome Barcelona’s 4-0 lead from the first leg. So, Hansi Flick’s team started the match with confidence. But things didn’t go well for them in the first half. Dortmund played poorly despite taking 7 shots at Barcelona’s goal and scoring just once.
The goal came early. In the 11th minute, Dortmund got a penalty after Barca goalkeeper Szczesny fouled. Serhou Guirassy scored it, putting Dortmund ahead. That was the only goal of the half. Barca, on the other hand, barely threatened and managed just one shot on target.
The second half saw two quick goals within 10 minutes. Guirassy scored again in the 49th minute after a pass from Bensebaini. But just four minutes later, Bensebaini accidentally scored an own goal, giving Barca a 5-2 lead on aggregate.
In the 75th minute, Guirassy completed his hat-trick thanks to a big mistake from Barça defender Araujo, who passed the ball straight to him. Dortmund thought they had another goal from Julian Brandt, but it was ruled out for offside. After four minutes of added time, Barcelona confirmed their place in the Champions League semi-finals.
Barcelona last won the Champions League 10 years ago and were last in the semi-finals six years ago. Back then, they were one of Europe’s top teams, with Lionel Messi leading the way. But after their painful 8-2 defeat to Bayern, Messi’s exit, and serious financial troubles—including selling grass from their stadium—Barça struggled.
Now under coach Hansi Flick, they are rebuilding with a mix of experienced players and young talent from their academy, La Masia. Reaching the semi-finals now is clear proof that Barcelona are finally on the comeback trail.