Borussia Dortmund midfielder Pascal Gross counseled his aspect for his or her spirited show in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Barcelona.
Dortmund got here into the second leg with a four-goal deficit to overturn in the event that they have been to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals for the second straight 12 months, and after a collection of half possibilities went begging within the opening minutes, Gross supplied the perfect begin at Sign Iduna Park.
The midfielder gained his aspect a penalty eight minutes in, and Serhou Guirassy made no mistake from the spot, scoring the primary of three targets on the evening.
Gross and Felix Nmecha noticed a objective disallowed for offside within the first half, and Guirassy once more supplied the spark early into the second, nodding residence from Ramy Bensebaini’s flicked move.
Bensebaini turned a cross into his personal web shortly after to settle Barcelona’s nerves, although Guirassy shortly had them on their toes with one other effective end, capitalising on Ronald Araujo’s defensive error to finish his hat-trick.
It was not sufficient for the hosts although, as Barcelona held on for a 5-3 mixture win and reached their first Champions League semi-final since 2018-19.
“We knew we had a troublesome outcome from the away recreation however every thing is feasible on this stadium,” Gross stated.
“We wished to play higher and extra courageously and assist one another extra on the pitch.”
Gross additionally acknowledged that Dortmund’s efficiency within the first leg final week allow them to down.
“We knew we needed to be courageous and play ahead. We did that at this time and it was a totally totally different recreation.
“It’s a disgrace we didn’t play like that within the first leg as we may have gotten one thing out of it.”
He added: “[Bensebaini’s] objective was slightly bit unlucky, and it killed the momentum however we saved going and scored a 3rd one. It was a great efficiency.”
This was Dortmund’s first win over Barcelona, with the Bundesliga aspect having did not win any of their earlier six encounters in opposition to the Blaugrana in European competitors (two attracts, 4 losses).
Gross created six possibilities in a effective particular person efficiency. The Germany worldwide ended his Champions League marketing campaign having created 26 possibilities general, with solely Julian Brandt (28 in 2023-24) creating extra in a single season within the competitors for Dortmund.
Our Champions League journey ends right here—however what a battle, what a efficiency. Heads held excessive. pic.twitter.com/kc0EFF3pmU
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) April 15, 2025
When requested concerning the penalty he gained early on, he defined that he simply tried to maintain himself forward of Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
“I attempted to get in entrance of [Szczesny]. I do know he’s taking place and I attempted to get my physique between the ball and the keeper,” Gross added.
“You by no means know when you’re offside with them however I wasn’t so it was a penalty.
“It was not sufficient however at this time was a great recreation.”
Guirassy’s hat-trick heroics proved fruitless.
The Guinea worldwide grew to become simply the fourth Dortmund participant to attain a hat-trick within the Champions League, after Robert Lewandowski (April 2013 in opposition to Actual Madrid), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (March 2017 in opposition to Benfica) and Karim Adeyemi (October 2024 in opposition to Celtic).
Guirassy’s 13 targets within the Champions League this season is essentially the most ever scored by an African participant in a single marketing campaign.
