Hansi Flick Set To Lead Barcelona Into First Champions League Semifinals In Five Years
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona is poised to return to the Champions League semifinals for the first time in several years, a feat that would signify the club’s resurgence as a serious contender for European glory. With a commanding 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the quarterfinals, Barcelona is just one step away from advancing, provided they avoid a catastrophic collapse in Tuesday’s second leg.
This year marks a decade since Barcelona last lifted the Champions League trophy, when a star-studded team coached by Luis Enrique triumphed over Juventus in 2015. Since then, the Catalan giants have struggled both on and off the pitch, compounded by financial difficulties that led to the departure of their legendary player, Lionel Messi, in 2021.
In the past ten years, Barcelona has only reached the semifinals once, in 2019, when they infamously squandered a 3-0 first-leg lead against Liverpool, losing 4-0 at Anfield. Their challenges continued with a humiliating 8-2 defeat to Flick’s Bayern Munich in a pandemic-era quarterfinal.
However, this season has been a revitalizing chapter for Barcelona. Currently leading LaLiga by four points over Real Madrid with just seven games left, they are also set to contest the Copa del Rey final against their arch-rivals later this month. The emergence of young talent Lamine Yamal, alongside the scoring prowess of Raphinha and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, has reinvigorated the team.
Flick’s Barcelona has shown its might against top-tier opponents, highlighted by last week’s dominant win over Dortmund and a stunning 4-1 victory against Bayern earlier in the league. The team has also outperformed Real Madrid this season, securing a 4-0 away win and a 5-2 victory in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Flick, who previously led Bayern to a historic six-trophy haul in 2020, has faced scrutiny following a challenging tenure as Germany’s national team coach. A successful Champions League run this season, especially with a potential final at Bayern’s Allianz Arena, would reaffirm his status among Europe’s elite coaches.
After a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Leganes in LaLiga that extended their unbeaten streak to 24 games in 2025, Flick expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress. “We’ve come this far, but we want to continue on this path,” he stated. “There’s an incredible atmosphere in the side.”
On the other hand, Dortmund faces an uphill battle as they sit eighth in the Bundesliga and are at risk of missing out on European qualification for next season. Sporting director Lars Ricken acknowledged the daunting challenge ahead, stating, “We need the greatest miracle in the history of Borussia Dortmund” to advance.
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac remains hopeful but realistic, emphasizing the importance of winning the match at home. “Our ambition is to win the game. Whether that’s enough to advance, I don’t know,” he admitted.
