Match Report
Guirassy levels twice, but Barca celebrate 3-2 win
Boris Rupert reporting
In front of 81,365 spectators at a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, BVB put up a great fight against the favourites, twice equalising through Guirassy, but were beaten 3-2 in the end. Raphina (52) and Torres (75/85) scored for Barcelona, while Guirassy bagged a brace for Borussia (60/78).
The scenario:
Fourth against third! Both teams had started the competition with four wins and one defeat, but Barca had the better goal difference by three goals.
Personnel matters:
Nuri Sahin was still without Anton (groin injury) and Brandt (thigh problem), while Beier and Süle (ankle) were also absent - and he took a bold approach: Can, Reyna and Duranville moved into the starting XI in a change from the 1-1 draw in Gladbach. It was Reyna's first game as a starter since 1 November 2023 and Duranville's debut in the starting line-up. Adeyemi made his return to the squad.
Tactics:
In Barcelona's 4-2-3-1 formation, Casado took on the defensive duties in the double-pivot, while Pedri was able to express himself when in possession and could be seen showing for the ball all over the park. Raphina, positioned on the left of the attacking three, moved into the centre time and again, creating surplus numbers and indirectly ensuring that right winger Lamine Yamal was given some freedom as the attentive Bensebaini had to weigh up where to position himself. While the visitors' attacking play tended to go down the right, BVB tried their luck equally down both wings with the speedy Duranville and Gittens.
The match & analysis:
BVB's first corner came after 22 seconds, but shortly afterwards there were two scares in the Dortmund penalty area. Barcelona set the tone, repeatedly establishing themselves in Dortmund's half, impressed with their ball retention and had three promising opportunities in the first half: Raphina struck Yamal's cross first time and whizzed it just past the right post (14), then Kobel was on hand to save shots from Yamal (20) and Koundé (36).
The Black & Yellows tried to progress up the pitch at speed, which they did well on several occasions. Sabitzer was denied by goalkeeper Pena's chest after being slipped in by Guirassy. The offside flag then went up. As was the case on several other occasions. Guirassy was indeed just offside after Reyna's cross. However, his header was held by Pena in any case (40).
Sabitzer could have given BVB the lead after 17 minutes. However, after Duranville's strong preparatory work, the Austrian was leaning back as he let loose and fired his shot over the bar. Shortly before the break, Gittens crossed into the penalty area from the left, but Guirassy failed to connect cleanly.
BVB came out of the break with Couto on for Ryerson and briefly celebrated what looked like the opening goal through Guirassy in the 50th minute. However, Gittens, who had delivered the cross, and also Sabitzer were offside. Instead, it was the visitors who took the lead. Olmo drove forward from his own half, slipped a pass out left to Raphina, who was just onside. The Brazilian made no mistake and slotted the ball into the right-hand corner of the goal (52).
But Dortmund came back quickly. Cubarsi shoved Guirassy in the penalty area and the referee, who had previously ruled against BVB in many scenes, pointed to the spot. Guirassy and Can swapped the ball twice, but the fouled player ultimately took responsibility and tucked the ball safely into the bottom left-hand corner (60'). Shortly afterwards, Guirassy had another sight of goal from 16 metres, but shot over the target (62).
Down the other end, Kobel made a strong save to deny Olmo (69), and then also made a brilliant stop to keep out substitute Lopez's volley from Koundé's cross. But he couldn't keep hold of the ball and Torres, who had also come on as a substitute shortly before, was in the right place to mop up the rebound and put Barca ahead for the second time (75). But Borussia did not give up. Guirassy headed a Gittens cross over the crossbar from five metres out (77) and then scored seconds later to make it 2-2. Couto had intercepted a ball from the visitors and played it forward to Gross. Barcelona goalkeeper Pena had come rushing out to intercept the ball, but Gross got their first and squared it to Guirassy, who slid the ball into the empty net from 17 metres out. Malen then had a chance to make it 3-2 in the 83rd minute, but failed to get the better of Pena.
Instead, it was Barca who were celebrating: Pena first cleared the ball out of the penalty area with his fists after a corner. Gross then played a misplaced pass. And so the Catalans were able to counter-attack. Yamal passed into the path of Torres in the six-yard box, who scored from an acute angle into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal (85). There was still a chance to equalise when Schlotterbeck got his head to the ball in the fifth minute of stoppage time, but he headed over the target and seemingly suffered a serious injury in the process.
Outlook:
Europe's elite competition does not resume until next year, with two more matches (away in Bologna and at home to Donetsk) scheduled for the end of January. In the Bundesliga, BVB next face TSG Hoffenheim (Sunday, 17:30 CET), followed by Wolfsburg the following Sunday.
Teams & goals
UEFA Champions League, Matchday 6
BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2–3 (0-0) FC BARCELONA
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Ryerson (46. Couto), Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – Nmecha – Sabitzer, Reyna (73. Groß) – Duranville (73. Malen), Guirassy, Gittens
FC Barcelona: Inaki Pena – Koundé, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde – Casado, Pedri (90.+3 Eric) – Lamine Yamal (90. Pau Victor), Dani Olmo (71. Fermin López), Raphinha (71. de Jong) – Lewandowski (71. Ferran Torres)
Substitutes: Meyer, Lotka, Benkara, Azhil, Kabar, Campbell, Wätjen, Adeyemi – Astralaga, Szczesny, Araujo, Fort, Martin, Fermin, Gavi, Pablo Torre
Goals: 0-1 Raphina (52, Olmo), 1-1 Guirassy (60, penalty, Cubarsi foul on Guirassy), 1-2 Torres (75., Lopez), 2-2 Guirassy (78., Gross), 2-3 Torres (85, Yamal)
Corners: 2-3 (1-2 at half-time), chance ratio: 8-8 (2-3)
Referee: Letexier (France), bookings: Sabitzer, Nmecha, Couto, Bensebaini – Cubarsi, Torres
Attendance: 81,365 (sold-out), weather: dry, 2 degrees celsius