Only Barcelona has overturned a four-goal deficit in the knockout rounds in Champions League history. That unforgettable comeback came in the 2016-17 Round of 16, when they bounced back from a 0-4 first-leg loss to PSG with a stunning 6-1 victory at the Camp Nou. Ironically, after pulling off that historic feat, Barcelona became victims of similar comebacks in two consecutive seasons.
In the 2017-18 quarterfinals, after defeating AS Roma 4-1 in the first leg at home, Barca were overwhelmed in the return leg at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma’s aggressive play led to a 3-0 win, leveling the aggregate at 4-4 and sending the Italians through on away goals. A year later, Barcelona repeated the same mistake in the 2018-19 semifinals: they won 3-0 against Liverpool in the first leg, only to collapse 0-4 at Anfield.
This time, however, under manager Hansi Flick, Barcelona were determined not to repeat past errors. In the quarterfinal second leg in Germany, they kept their composure and advanced with an aggregate score of 5-3.
On the other hand, Dortmund has had an inconsistent season. Currently sitting 8th in the Bundesliga table, their recent form reflects their struggles. Since the beginning of March, they have played 9 matches, winning 4, drawing 2, and losing 3. Just last weekend, they barely managed a draw against Bayern Munich after conceding two quick goals in the second half.
After suffering a heavy 0-4 defeat in the first leg at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Dortmund’s hopes for a comeback were slim. Even with the backing of tens of thousands of home fans at their “fortress” Signal Iduna Park, the miracle didn’t materialize. The ticket to the semifinals belonged to the Catalan giants.
A week earlier, Barcelona had dominated Dortmund with a 4-0 win at home. Despite holding a commanding lead, coach Hansi Flick remained cautious. In the post-match press conference, he emphasized: “Barcelona never assumes qualification is guaranteed — there's still a second leg, and anything can happen.” As a result, Barca approached the second leg with a disciplined mindset.
Dortmund, in contrast, came out determined to pull off a dramatic comeback — something their opponents had once done themselves. Guirassy scored twice — in the 11th minute of the first half and the 49th of the second — giving Dortmund hope. But just five minutes later, Bensebaini’s own goal handed Barcelona a crucial away goal. In the 76th minute, Guirassy completed his hat-trick, making it 3-1, which remained the final score.
In the end, Dortmund achieved a half miracle — a 3-1 victory, but not enough to overturn the deficit. Barcelona moved on to the semifinals, where they will face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich — two formidable opponents. If they hope to continue their pursuit of a historic treble, Barcelona will need to overcome this next major hurdle.
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.jpeg "The Final Goal")
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