The Battle of Dortmund… A Lesson That Could Shape a Historic Season for Barcelona

When Hansi Flick entered the dressing room at Signal Iduna Park after the match, the scene was clear: disappointed faces and a heavy silence. According to The Athletic, the German coach said: “The atmosphere wasn’t great in there… but I told them: Guys, we are in the Champions League semi-finals, and that’s a moment worth celebrating.”

Barcelona advanced despite a 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund, benefiting from their dominant 4-0 win in the first leg. Thus, they found themselves among Europe’s final four for the first time in six years. But the path was far from easy. Dortmund played fiercely, and Serhou Guirassy shined with a hat trick, giving a strong signal for new coach Niko Kovač’s project.

The loss ended a 24-match unbeaten run for Barcelona—the fourth-longest in the club’s history and the longest this season in Europe’s top five leagues, tied with Liverpool. Yet it may have come at the perfect time. Public and internal pressure has slightly eased, and the result wasn’t catastrophic. Over the span of 19 days, the team played seven matches and managed to stay alive in all competitions.

Nevertheless, the players were far from satisfied. The team not only lost but also recorded their worst expected goals differential in a Champions League knockout game this season: -3.36—an alarming stat for a club like Barcelona.

Defender Jules Koundé told Movistar frankly: “I’m disappointed. We weren’t up to the level, we made mistakes, and we were careless. I know this team is better than that.” Koundé’s comments reflect high standards within the dressing room—a positive sign. But above all, Barcelona are back in the Champions League semi-finals, and that’s a moment worth pausing for.

Since the infamous 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in 2019, Barcelona have endured tough European years: two group stage exits, and Europa League heartbreaks at the hands of Manchester United and Eintracht Frankfurt. They’ve only reached the quarter-finals twice—one being the humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich. In short, the title has remained out of reach, and hope, absent.