Tue Apr 15 19:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Barcelona Survives Dortmund Scare, Advances to Champions League Semifinals
**Dortmund, Germany** – FC Barcelona narrowly escaped a Champions League upset, defeating Borussia Dortmund 3-5 on aggregate despite a 3-1 loss in the second leg. The match saw a shaky performance from the Catalan giants, who conceded three goals to a rampant Dortmund side, leaving their semifinal berth in serious jeopardy.
Coach Hansi Flick, who dismissed concerns about rotating his squad before the match, fielded a largely first-choice team despite injuries and suspensions. However, Barcelona’s usually strong possession-based game fell apart, with individual errors leading to Dortmund’s goals. Araujo’s poor performance was highlighted, along with several misplaced passes from key players like Lamine Yamal and Fermín López.
Dortmund took a 1-0 lead through a Guirassy penalty, awarded after a Koundé error, before Guirassy scored again early in the second half. A Bensebaini own goal briefly revived Barcelona’s hopes, but Guirassy completed his hat-trick late in the game to seal the 3-1 win for Dortmund.
Despite the shaky display, Barcelona held on to advance to the Champions League semifinals for the first time in six years. The match echoed Barcelona’s famous comeback against Kaiserslautern, highlighting the team’s resilience even in the face of a subpar performance. The victory, however, served as a stark reminder of the need for improvement before the next stage of the competition.
First Piper 