FanSided World Football
·11 de diciembre de 2024
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Yahoo sportsFanSided World Football
·11 de diciembre de 2024
Borussia Dortmund fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat to FC Barcelona in a topsy-turvy UEFA Champions League contest.
In a hard-fought game with not much to separate the two sides, it was FC Barcelona who came out on top and claimed the three points against Borussia Dortmund. Serhou Guirassy scored twice for the Black and Yellows, but a goal from Raphinha and a brace from Ferran Torres allowed the Spanish giants to hand BVB their first home defeat of the season.
Nuri Sahin sprung a couple of big surprises with his starting XI, notably naming Gio Reyna and Julien Duranville in the team in the absence of Julian Brandt and Maximilian Beier. Emre Can also returned to the XI in place of the injured Niklas Süle.
Barcelona looked lively during the early stages, and had a few sights of goal. Lamine Yamal looked dangerous and set up the game’s first really chance. But Raphinha flashed his effort wide of goal. On the opposite end, Duranville did brilliantly to set up Sabitzer, who skied wide from eight yards out.
Gregor Kobel was forced into action in the 36th minute but did well to deny Jules Kounde. Despite a lively first-half, neither side was able to find the breakthrough before the break.
Borussia Dortmund thought they had the opening goal in the 50th minute when Serhou Guirassy had the ball in the net after a fine cross by Jamie Gittens. But the goal was ruled out for offside.
Two minutes later, Raphinha scored for Barcelona after getting on the end of Dani Olmo’s through ball and beating the offside trap. The goal was allowed to stand despite complaints from the Borussia Dortmund players over a foul in the build-up.
BVB were then awarded a penalty in the 58th minute after Guirassy was brought down inside the box by Pau Cubarsí. The striker stepped up and made no mistake to bring the home side back on level terms.
Ferran Torres then restored Barcelona’s lead after more excellent play down Barcelona’s right flank. The winger turned home on the rebound after Fermín López’s initial effort was saved.
Moments later, Guirassy had a golden opportunity to equalise again for Borussia Dortmund. But he fired a free header over the bar from six yards out after a fantastic run from Jamie Gittens.
Two minutes later, the towering striker did grab his second goal of the evening, taking advantage of some brilliant play from Pascal Groß to score into an empty net. Yan Couto was also involved in the build-up.
Buoyed by their equaliser, Borussia Dortmund appeared to be the dominant team in the closing stages. But Torres scored on the counter-attack in the 85th minute, giving Barcelona the lead for the third time.
That proved to be the winning goal as Borussia Dortmund were handed their first home defeat of the Nuri Sahin era. It was a valiant performance from BVB in a game from which they can learn a lot from.
Despite the defeat, Borussia Dortmund remain well on track to qualify for the Champions League round of 16.