Signal Iduna Park was electrified on April 15, 2025, as Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona clashed in a thrilling UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg. Borussia Dortmund emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline, powered by a spectacular hat-trick from Serhou Guirassy. However, this triumph was not enough to overturn Barcelona's substantial first-leg advantage, and the Catalan giants advanced to the semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate result, marking their first semi-final appearance since 2019.
Dortmund entered the match facing a daunting 4-0 deficit from the first leg, a challenge that required a monumental effort. The iconic "Yellow Wall" of Signal Iduna Park roared, creating an intense atmosphere as Dortmund sought to achieve the impossible. They initiated the match with aggressive attacking play, spearheaded by Guirassy, and created several early opportunities. However, Barcelona's goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczęsny, delivered crucial saves, denying Dortmund an early breakthrough.
The deadlock was broken in the 11th minute when Guirassy converted a penalty, awarded after Szczęsny fouled a Dortmund attacker within the penalty area. The stadium erupted, fueling Dortmund's belief. Dortmund continued to apply pressure, but Barcelona remained resilient. In the 49th minute, Guirassy headed in his second goal, connecting with a perfectly placed cross, bringing the aggregate score to 4-2 and escalating the tension.
Barcelona countered in the 54th minute. A Barcelona cross deflected off Dortmund's Ramy Bensebaini into his own net, providing Barcelona with a vital away goal and a 5-2 aggregate lead. This own goal significantly impacted Dortmund's comeback hopes. Guirassy completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute with an instinctive finish, demonstrating his clinical ability, but it proved insufficient to bridge the aggregate gap.
Despite dominating significant portions of the match and generating numerous scoring opportunities, Dortmund could not overcome Barcelona's first-leg advantage. Guirassy's hat-trick was a remarkable individual performance, highlighting his attacking prowess. However, defensive errors, particularly the own goal, and Szczęsny's earlier saves, proved decisive in the outcome.
Barcelona, despite the defeat, progressed thanks to their substantial first-leg lead and the crucial away goal. This match marked their first loss in 25 games across all competitions in 2025, underlining their strong form throughout the year.
Barcelona now advances to the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of the tie between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. Dortmund, despite their elimination, can take pride in their performance and Guirassy's exceptional hat-trick, which provided a memorable spectacle for the passionate Signal Iduna Park crowd.
Tactically, Dortmund adopted an aggressive attacking strategy, pushing high up the pitch and utilizing Guirassy's physicality and aerial ability. Barcelona, while conceding possession, relied on their experience and defensive organization to absorb Dortmund's pressure and capitalize on counter-attacks. Key moments included Guirassy's penalty conversion in the 11th minute, his header in the 49th minute, Bensebaini's own goal in the 54th minute, Guirassy's hat-trick completion in the 76th minute, and Szczęsny's multiple saves early in the match.
