Barcelona, PSG Move Forward to the Semifinals of the UEFA Champions League
Barcelona advanced to the UEFA Champions League semifinals with a 5-3 aggregate victory, despite falling 3-1 to Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their quarterfinal clash on Tuesday. Serhou Guirassy was the standout performer for the home...
TroibNews 
Barcelona advanced to the UEFA Champions League semifinals with a 5-3 aggregate victory, despite falling 3-1 to Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their quarterfinal clash on Tuesday. Serhou Guirassy was the standout performer for the home team, scoring a hat-trick.
Having established a 4-0 advantage after a commanding first leg in Catalonia, the Spanish side faced a tense challenge as Dortmund, inspired by Guirassy, nearly orchestrated a remarkable comeback.
Guirassy opened the scoring for the hosts with a Panenka penalty in the 11th minute and quickly added a second goal with a header early in the second half.
Momentum shifted as Dortmund sensed the possibility of an incredible turnaround, but Barcelona responded decisively. Fermin Lopez forced Ramy Bensebaini into an own goal with just over 30 minutes remaining, providing a crucial lifeline for Barcelona.
However, Guirassy rekindled hope for Dortmund with his third goal in the 76th minute. The home crowd may have anticipated a dramatic finish, but Julian Brandt was flagged offside with 11 minutes left, stymying Dortmund's efforts.
Despite suffering their first competitive loss of 2025, Barcelona's progression to the semifinals keeps their hopes for a remarkable treble alive, a decade since they last lifted the Champions League trophy in Berlin.
In other action, Paris Saint-Germain endured a second-half barrage to secure a 5-4 aggregate victory over Aston Villa, reaching the UEFA Champions League semifinals even after losing 3-2 in England on Tuesday.
The French side appeared to be in control early on, with full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes finding the net within the first 27 minutes, supplementing their 3-1 lead from the first leg.
However, Youri Tielemans managed to score for the hosts just before halftime, and an explosive two-minute stretch saw John McGinn and Ezri Konsa each score to heighten the drama early in the second half.
Yet, PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was instrumental in keeping Unai Emery’s squad at bay, ultimately helping to avoid another infamous collapse in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
Having established a 4-0 advantage after a commanding first leg in Catalonia, the Spanish side faced a tense challenge as Dortmund, inspired by Guirassy, nearly orchestrated a remarkable comeback.
Guirassy opened the scoring for the hosts with a Panenka penalty in the 11th minute and quickly added a second goal with a header early in the second half.
Momentum shifted as Dortmund sensed the possibility of an incredible turnaround, but Barcelona responded decisively. Fermin Lopez forced Ramy Bensebaini into an own goal with just over 30 minutes remaining, providing a crucial lifeline for Barcelona.
However, Guirassy rekindled hope for Dortmund with his third goal in the 76th minute. The home crowd may have anticipated a dramatic finish, but Julian Brandt was flagged offside with 11 minutes left, stymying Dortmund's efforts.
Despite suffering their first competitive loss of 2025, Barcelona's progression to the semifinals keeps their hopes for a remarkable treble alive, a decade since they last lifted the Champions League trophy in Berlin.
In other action, Paris Saint-Germain endured a second-half barrage to secure a 5-4 aggregate victory over Aston Villa, reaching the UEFA Champions League semifinals even after losing 3-2 in England on Tuesday.
The French side appeared to be in control early on, with full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes finding the net within the first 27 minutes, supplementing their 3-1 lead from the first leg.
However, Youri Tielemans managed to score for the hosts just before halftime, and an explosive two-minute stretch saw John McGinn and Ezri Konsa each score to heighten the drama early in the second half.
Yet, PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was instrumental in keeping Unai Emery’s squad at bay, ultimately helping to avoid another infamous collapse in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
Interested in more international Sports news? Visit TROIB Sports
