Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Barcelona Secure Champions League Semi-Final Berth Despite Dortmund Scare
Barcelona advanced to the Champions League semi-finals, overcoming a spirited Borussia Dortmund side despite a Serhou Guirassy hat-trick. While the Catalan giants were unable to fully dictate play through possession as they might have preferred, they ultimately maintained a comfortable lead on aggregate. However, there were periods of palpable tension, and an opportune own goal proved crucial in preventing a potentially challenging evening for Hansi Flick’s men in this Champions League quarter-final clash.
Flick Acknowledges Dortmund’s Strong Performance
“I anticipated a difficult match, knowing this stadium and Dortmund well,” admitted Barça manager Hansi Flick. “Dortmund performed admirably. Our execution was not at our usual standard.” The Champions League quarter-final tie, while resulting in progression for Barcelona, nonetheless raised questions regarding their credentials as potential champions. Flick’s La Liga leaders possess undeniable quality, yet their inherently attacking, high-pressing approach carries risks, potentially exploitable by more clinical opponents than Dortmund.
Buildup and Early Game Dynamics
Barcelona’s commanding 4-0 victory in the first leg effectively decided the quarter-final, resulting in a relaxed atmosphere ahead of the return fixture. The pre-match scene outside local establishments in Dortmund’s Alter Markt was notably amicable, with supporters of both teams mingling in a convivial spirit.
However, any complacency within the Barcelona ranks was swiftly dispelled. Conceding an early goal injected immediate jeopardy. Memories of past collapses after substantial first-leg leads – against Roma and Liverpool – lingered, offering Dortmund a glimmer of hope. Tactically, Dortmund coach Niko Kovac shifted from a 4-3-3 to a 3-4-2-1 formation. This tactical adjustment enabled them to apply more intense and higher pressure on Barcelona than in the previous week, a change to which Flick’s team initially struggled to adapt.
Dortmund’s Early Pressure and Barcelona’s Response
Karim Adeyemi’s pace on the left flank posed significant problems for Barcelona, creating several opportunities before he set up Pascal Gross, who was fouled by Wojciech Szczesny, resulting in a ninth-minute penalty. Guirassy duly converted, igniting the home crowd. Barcelona appeared uncharacteristically disjointed and unsettled by Dortmund‘s intensity and the fervent atmosphere. The home side registered five shots on target within the opening 20 minutes. Flick’s decision to rest Pedri, a player renowned for his ability to control possession, appeared increasingly questionable as Dortmund dominated the early stages.
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Momentum Shifts and Own Goal Decisive
Yet, Dortmund‘s relentless high-energy approach carried inherent risks. As Maximilian Beier headed a Gross free-kick directly at Szczesny around the half-hour mark, signs of fatigue began to emerge in the home side. While never appearing entirely comfortable, Barcelona gradually established a degree of control as half-time approached.
The second half commenced with another Dortmund offensive, culminating in Guirassy’s second goal, a close-range header, just four minutes after the restart. Dortmund’s renewed optimism, however, proved short-lived. Within five minutes, Fermin López’s cross was inadvertently turned into the net by Ramy Bensebaini for an own goal. This unfortunate incident visibly deflated Dortmund, though substitute Julien Duranville’s impressive play later set up Guirassy for his third goal with 14 minutes remaining. A subsequent Julian Brandt goal for Dortmund was disallowed for offside, preventing further pressure on Barcelona.
Defensive Vulnerabilities Exposed
Despite the aggregate scoreline suggesting a comfortable Barcelona victory, Dortmund exposed vulnerabilities in their opponents’ setup. Ignoring the first leg’s 4-0 score, Dortmund generated a significant number of chances across both legs: 13 in the first leg and 18 in the second, highlighting a defensive concern for Barcelona. Like many teams managed by Flick, Barcelona employs a very high defensive line, rendering them susceptible to counter-attacks. If their pressing is even slightly less than perfect, they become exposed, particularly against teams with rapid, direct attackers.
This defensive fragility is evidenced by the four goals conceded in Barcelona‘s league games against Osasuna, Benfica, and Atlético this season. Defender Ronald Araújo acknowledged areas for improvement despite the semi-final qualification. “There are aspects we must rectify,” Araújo stated, “but we are in the semi-finals. I am pleased because in the past, we might have lost a game like this.”
Semi-Final Outlook
Regardless of whether Inter Milan or Bayern Munich emerges from the other quarter-final, both potential opponents will have taken note of Barcelona’s struggles against Dortmund’s press and the space available behind their high defensive line, identifying potential avenues for exploitation in the upcoming Champions League semi-final.