Painful Elimination on a Night of Brilliance from Guirassy
Geraci, a One-Man Army Against Hansi Flick’s Empire!
In football, sometimes a player shines so brightly that the result—elimination or advancement—becomes secondary. What remains is a performance that captivates hearts, like Serhou Guirassy’s display against Hansi Flick’s team!
Borussia Dortmund, last season’s Champions League finalists, bowed out of the quarter-finals—all thanks to a man named Serhou Guirassy, whose performance ensured European fans remembered Dortmund for his brilliance rather than a 4-0 collapse in Spain. Barcelona demolished Dortmund at Montjuïc, but at Signal Iduna Park, Guirassy was a one-man army who did everything but couldn’t prevent his team’s exit.
In the second leg on Tuesday night, Dortmund, led by Guirassy’s heroics, defeated Hansi Flick’s Barcelona 3-1, handing them their first loss of 2025. However, the heavy 4-0 defeat from the first leg proved insurmountable, and Niko Kovač’s side was eliminated.
Guirassy’s hat-trick reignited Dortmund’s hopes of a miracle, showcasing his class once again. With 13 goals, he now leads the Champions League scoring charts.
The key takeaway was that despite elimination, Kovač’s team—especially Guirassy—delivered a spectacular performance! Before the match, Guirassy expressed hope for an early goal, and that’s exactly what happened. Dortmund pressed Barcelona from the start, and in the 11th minute, Guirassy ignited hope. Wojciech Szczęsny fouled Pascal Groß, and Guirassy confidently converted the penalty with a Panenka.
This was the early goal Dortmund needed, but the first half ended without further scoring. In the second half, Guirassy headed in the second goal from a corner in the 49th minute. The stadium erupted—50% of the comeback was complete. But five minutes later, Bensebaini’s unlucky own goal from a Ferran Torres cross dampened the mood. Who lifted the fans again? Serhou Guirassy!
In the 76th minute, he completed his hat-trick, beautifully converting Donyell Malen’s pass—a perfect hat-trick: right-footed penalty, header, and left-footed finish. He’s the only African player to score 13 Champions League goals in a season, surpassing all other African greats.
Ultimately, Dortmund’s efforts fell short, with the first-leg defeat too heavy to overcome. Yet, Guirassy ensured they became the first team to defeat Flick’s Barcelona in 2025. He didn’t eliminate Barça, but he outshone Raphinha—a Ballon d’Or contender—who watched Guirassy’s hat-trick unfold. Dortmund may miss next year’s Champions League, but they left behind a memorable performance with a clear message: Guirassy could be the next Lewandowski—keep him!
