Ferran Torres Shines as Barcelona Edges Dortmund in Champions League Thriller
What a night for Barcelona fans! Substitute Ferran Torres came off the bench to deliver a stunning performance, scoring twice, including an 85th-minute winner, to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday. With this win, Barcelona is now on the brink of qualification for the next round.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, especially in the second half, which saw all five goals scored. Torres, who entered the game in the 71st minute, wasted no time making his mark. His two goals in just 10 minutes lifted Barcelona to 15 points, solidifying their second-place position in the group with two games left in the league phase.
On the other side, Dortmund fought valiantly, with Serhou Guirassy scoring both of their goals. However, they couldn’t find a way to equalize for a third time after Torres’ late winner, which came from a brilliant assist by Lamine Yamal. The loss dropped Dortmund to ninth place with 12 points, leaving them outside the top eight teams that automatically qualify for the round of 16.
Barcelona’s Coach Praises the Team’s Resilience
After the match, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was full of praise for his team. “We can be very happy with what we have done,” Flick told reporters. “The first half was wonderful, and in the second half, when they scored, we remained calm and solid.”
He acknowledged Dortmund’s quality, saying, “Dortmund played very well with players who have a high pace, but we did it well. We conceded goals because of mistakes we made. We can always improve, but today I have to say congratulations to the team because they did it really well.”
First Half Dominance by Barcelona
Barcelona came out strong, dominating possession from the start. Captain Raphinha and star striker Robert Lewandowski both had early chances to put the visitors ahead. Meanwhile, Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer had a chance of his own, but it was Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel who stole the show in the first half. Kobel was kept busy as Barcelona enjoyed nearly 70% possession in what was a one-sided opening 45 minutes.
Second Half Fireworks
The second half was a completely different story. Dortmund came out sharper and thought they had taken the lead in the 50th minute when Guirassy found the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Barcelona responded just three minutes later when Raphinha latched onto a superb pass from Dani Olmo to finish off a quick move. It was Raphinha’s sixth goal of the competition, putting Barcelona in the driver’s seat.
Dortmund wasn’t going down without a fight. Guirassy leveled the score in the 60th minute with a well-taken penalty after being brought down in the box. Kobel continued to shine, making a crucial save on another Olmo shot to keep Dortmund in the game.
But then came Torres. The substitute made an immediate impact, scoring in the 75th minute after Kobel punched a Frenkie de Jong volley into his path. Dortmund answered back just three minutes later when Guirassy capitalized on a defensive lapse by Barcelona. However, Torres wasn’t done yet. In the 85th minute, he scored the winner after a brilliant through ball from Yamal, sealing the victory for Barcelona.
Injury Woes for Dortmund
To make matters worse for Dortmund, defender Nico Schlotterbeck suffered an ankle injury in the final moments of the game. He had to be treated on the pitch after the final whistle, adding to Dortmund’s growing list of injury concerns.
Key Takeaways
- Ferran Torres: The super-sub scored twice in 10 minutes, including the game-winner.
- Barcelona’s Dominance: Controlled nearly 70% possession in the first half.
- Dortmund’s Fight: Guirassy scored twice but couldn’t save his team from defeat.
- Injury Concerns: Schlotterbeck’s late injury adds to Dortmund’s woes.
With this win, Barcelona is now just one step away from securing their spot in the round of 16. Meanwhile, Dortmund faces an uphill battle to climb back into the top eight. One thing is for sure: the Champions League never fails to deliver drama!
Originally Written by: Reuters
