Borussia Dortmund staged an impressive fightback in their Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona but ultimately fell short of overturning a 4-0 deficit from the first leg. Despite the odds being against them, Dortmund won the second leg 3-1, thanks to a Serhou Guirassy hat-trick, but Barcelona progressed to the semifinals with a 5-3 aggregate victory.

Guirassy was the star of the show for Dortmund, scoring all three of his team’s goals. He opened the scoring with a cheeky Panenka penalty in the 11th minute, before doubling Dortmund’s tally four minutes after the break. However, Barcelona’s aggregate lead was restored just five minutes later when Ramy Bensebaini sliced into his own net.

Despite their deficit, Dortmund continued to push for goals, and Guirassy gave them late hope by completing his hat-trick in the 76th minute. The Guinea striker’s third goal sparked a frenetic finish to the match, but Barcelona held on to secure their place in the semifinals.

The win means that Barcelona will reach the semifinals for the first time since 2019. They will face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich, with the Italian side taking a 2-1 lead into Wednesday’s second leg. Despite the convincing scoreline, Barcelona will be aware of the threat posed by Dortmund, who showed immense character in the second leg.

Dortmund’s performance was a testament to their determination and spirit. They created numerous chances and pushed Barcelona hard, but ultimately, it was not enough to overcome the deficit from the first leg. Guirassy’s hat-trick earned him a player of the match rating, with an average score of 8.92 from BBC Sport users.

The match was an exciting encounter, with both teams giving their all. In the end, Barcelona’s experience and quality told, and they will look to build on this momentum as they progress to the semifinals.