In a thrilling showcase of determination, both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fought their way into the semifinals of the 2025 UEFA Champions League, surviving intense challenges from Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa. Despite securing advancement, both teams had to weather significant pressure in their quarterfinal second-leg matches, with Dortmund and Villa pushing them to the brink.
Barcelona, already in the driver’s seat with a commanding 4-0 lead from the first leg, found themselves battling for survival in a tense second leg against Borussia Dortmund in Germany. Dortmund, driven by the outstanding performance of Serhou Guirassy, had one last chance to pull off an incredible comeback.
The match began with a bang as Dortmund’s Guirassy, who has been in sensational form this season, converted a panenka penalty in the 11th minute. His calm finish put the hosts on the scoreboard, and they added to their hopes when Guirassy headed in another goal from a corner early in the second half, making it 2-0 and narrowing the aggregate score to 4-2 in Barcelona’s favor.
With the Westfalenstadion roaring, Dortmund sensed they could achieve a historic comeback. However, Barcelona responded well. A cross from Lamine Yamal in the 64th minute was deflected into his own net by Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini, giving Barcelona a crucial away goal and a 5-2 aggregate lead. But Dortmund wasn’t finished yet. Guirassy completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, making it 3-1 on the night, and leaving Barcelona to hold their breath as the aggregate score stood at 5-3.
Despite a flurry of attacks and a disallowed goal by Julian Brandt, Barcelona managed to hold on, securing a 5-3 aggregate victory. Though Barcelona’s 1-0 loss in Dortmund marked their first competitive defeat of 2025, they progressed to the semifinals, keeping their treble dreams alive.
“Barcelona are a very strong team, but we fought until the very end,” Guirassy said after the match, reflecting the pride Dortmund felt despite the elimination. With 13 goals in this season’s Champions League, the Guinean striker has emerged as one of the competition’s top scorers.
Barcelona, the favorites to win the competition, will now face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich in the semifinals, where they will look to continue their quest for a remarkable treble, which they last achieved in 2015 when they won the Champions League in Berlin.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) were also made to sweat in their quarterfinal second leg against a determined Aston Villa. With a 3-1 lead from the first leg, PSG appeared to be cruising toward a semifinals berth, but Villa, bolstered by a passionate home crowd, had other ideas.
PSG took the initiative early on, with Achraf Hakimi opening the scoring in the 11th minute after a mistake by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. PSG’s Nuno Mendes doubled the visitors’ advantage in the 27th minute, making it 2-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate, putting them in a strong position to progress.
However, Aston Villa showed their resilience and determination. Youri Tielemans pulled one back for Villa in the 34th minute with a deflected shot that went past PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, giving Villa a glimmer of hope.
In the second half, Villa came out with renewed energy and scored two goals in quick succession. John McGinn’s powerful shot in the 55th minute, helped by a slight deflection, made it 2-1 on the night. Two minutes later, Ezri Konsa leveled the score for Villa, heading home from a brilliant Marcus Rashford cross. The aggregate score was now 5-3 in PSG’s favor, and Villa had one more chance to level the tie.
With a goal needed to force extra time, Villa poured forward, but PSG’s Donnarumma was in superb form, making a string of crucial saves. Villa’s Marco Asensio, Tielemans, and Rashford all tested Donnarumma in the final stages, but the Italian goalkeeper stood tall, helping PSG survive the barrage and secure their place in the semifinals.
“It was a proud night for us, even though it wasn’t enough,” said Konsa after the game. “The two early goals from PSG put us on the back foot, but we showed great character to get back into the match. Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish the job.”
PSG’s aggregate victory was 5-4, with Villa’s thrilling second-leg fightback falling just short. PSG will now face either Real Madrid or Arsenal in the semifinals, as they look to claim their first-ever Champions League title.
Both Barcelona and PSG showed resilience in their quarterfinals, with the matches serving as a reminder of how unpredictable and thrilling the Champions League can be. Dortmund and Villa, despite being eliminated, proved that they could compete with the continent’s elite, making their exits all the more painful for their fans.
Barcelona’s victory keeps their hopes of completing a historic treble alive, as they chase La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League. With players like Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Gavi performing at the highest level, Barcelona will be a tough opponent for any team in the semifinals.
PSG, on the other hand, will now turn their attention to their quest for a first-ever Champions League trophy. With stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar leading the charge, they will be one of the favorites to go all the way. However, their close call against Villa serves as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed in this competition.
For Dortmund, their performance against Barcelona, particularly the remarkable hat-trick from Serhou Guirassy, will give them something to build on for the future. Similarly, Aston Villa, despite their heartbreak, showed that they can compete with Europe’s best, and their exciting squad will surely be one to watch in the coming seasons.
As the Champions League semifinals approach, fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this thrilling competition, with four teams now just two steps away from European glory.
