Despite a valiant comeback attempt from Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona was able to hold on and advance to the Champions League semi-finals thanks to a dominant first leg performance. Serhou Guirassy's hat-trick in the second leg was not enough for Dortmund, as they fell just short of completing an incredible comeback. Barcelona's first-leg demolition proved to be the deciding factor in the end, as they move on to the semi-finals for the first time since 2019.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has issued a warning to their Champions League rivals as his team continues to improve after their 4-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund. The Catalans dominated the first leg and are now one step closer to the semi-finals, thanks to their top scorer Raphinha, who now equals Lionel Messi's record for Barcelona with 19 direct goal contributions this season. While Flick acknowledges the team's impressive performance, he believes there is still room for improvement. Meanwhile, Dortmund's coach Niko Kovac admits it was a well-deserved defeat for his team and their chances of advancing to the next round are minimal.
The search for a new head coach at Rangers is heating up, as the San Francisco 49ers look to take over the club. One name that has emerged as a potential candidate is former Borussia Dortmund coach, Marco Rose. With a proven track record at Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig, where he led his teams to league titles and impressive performances in Europe, Rose could be a perfect fit for the high-octane style and focus on youth that Rangers are looking for in a successor to Philippe Clement.
Dortmund will be hoping to turn their fortunes around when they face Union Berlin at home this Saturday. After a disappointing 2-0 loss to VfL Bochum in their last league match, Dortmund sits in 11th place in the Bundesliga standings. However, under new coach Niko Kovac, they have shown some signs of improvement, with a recent 0-0 draw against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League. But with only two wins in their last seven Bundesliga games, Dortmund will need to step up their game if they want to secure a favorable result against Union Berlin.
The much-awaited Champions League play-offs have officially begun with 16 teams competing for the final eight spots in the next stage. Eight teams, including Liverpool and Arsenal, have already secured their places while Aston Villa clinched the final spot with a victory over Celtic. The draws for the last 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals will take place on 21 February, setting up exciting match-ups for the remaining teams. Villa will face either Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge in the last 16.
In a thrilling Champions League clash between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund, youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly grabbed the headlines with not only his goal but his celebratory yoga pose mocking Dortmund striker Erling Haaland. The rivalry between the two players stems from previous incidents, including Haaland's comments to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Lewis-Skelly's impressive performance, including his goal, drew praise from pundits and put Arsenal in a strong position in the match.
Bologna made a stunning comeback in the Champions League match against Dortmund, scoring two goals in just two minutes to secure a 2-1 victory. Thijs Dallinga and Samuel Iling-Junior were the heroes of the night as they overturned Dortmund's lead and secured Bologna's first win in the competition. With this result, Dortmund has now suffered four consecutive losses in all competitions and the pressure is mounting on the team.
The latest transfer news from the world of football includes Arsenal's quest for a new striker after their defeat against Tottenham, while Tottenham is also in search of new additions. The futures of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho at Man Utd are causing speculation, Dortmund refusing to sign Rashford and Napoli still interested in Garnacho. Meanwhile, Manchester City is making moves for three signings and there is a possibility that Trent Alexander-Arnold could leave Liverpool for Real Madrid before the January window closes. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting transfer window frenzy.
Dutchman Erik ten Hag, who was previously sacked by Manchester United, has been brought in as a "shadow coach" for Borussia Dortmund as manager Nuri Sahin's job is on the line after another defeat. Despite Sahin's struggles, the team has allowed Ten Hag to work with him in hopes of turning their season around. Ten Hag's previous successes at Ajax, including reaching the Champions League semi-finals, have made Dortmund consider him as a potential replacement for Sahin.
In a highly anticipated Champions League match, Ferran Torres proved to be the hero for Barcelona as he scored two crucial goals to secure a 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund. Despite Dortmund's efforts to equalize, the Spanish side held on to their lead and cemented their spot in the knockout phase. The win not only guarantees Barcelona a spot in the playoffs, but also puts them in a favorable position for direct qualification to the last 16. Dortmund, on the other hand, suffered their first home loss of the season and dropped down to ninth in the league table.