Barcelona fans, breathe. Just breathe.

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t vintage. But Barcelona are into the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League after surviving a nerve-shredding second-leg clash against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park. Despite a 3-1 loss on the night, the 5-3 aggregate win was just enough to see Hansi Flick’s men through to the final four.

Dortmund came out with fire and fury, determined to erase the first-leg deficit. And they made their intentions clear early. A clumsy challenge from Wojciech Szczesny on Pascal Gross in the opening stages gifted the hosts a penalty – one which Serhou Guirassy dispatched with ice-cold composure via a cheeky Panenka.

That early blow shook Barcelona, and they spent much of the first half weathering wave after wave of Dortmund pressure. Credit to the Catalan defence – and Szczesny in particular – for keeping the Germans at bay for the rest of the first period.

However, the storm wasn’t over. Minutes into the second half, Guirassy struck again, this time nodding home from a corner to reduce the aggregate scoreline to 4-3. The Signal Iduna Park was rocking, and for a brief spell, it looked like Barcelona might completely lose their grip on the tie.

But champions aren’t crowned just by flair – they’re forged in adversity. Barça dug deep. And when the chance came, Barcelona took it. A slick move down the right ended with a crucial goal that gave them breathing space once more, restoring their two-goal aggregate advantage.

From then on, it was all about control. Barcelona kept their heads, slowed the tempo, and frustrated Dortmund. The final whistle was met with relief, jubilation, and just a little exhaustion – both on the pitch and in the stands.

It wasn’t a masterclass, but it was a lesson in resilience. This new-look Barcelona is learning to win ugly when necessary. And that might just be what takes them all the way.

Semi-finals, here we come. Visca Barça!