In the end it wasn't good, but Barcelona did almost enough to book their place in the semi-final of the Champions League, despite a 3-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. The 4-0 victory of the Catalans in the first stage of last week made the difference as they made 5-3 ahead.
There has been a lot of praise for Barcelona this season, with many supporters and experts who claim that considerable progress has been made since Hansi Flick's arrival last summer. The German head coach has introduced a very entertaining playing style and occasionally they have also been completely dominant in competitions.
But interesting is that Barcelona was at the same point as last season before the Tuesday game, as Diario as emphasized. In La Liga they are at 70 points after 31 games, which is the same as the 2023-24 campaign, which was the last as manager of Xavi Hernandez.
But the big difference is now in the Champions League. Last season, Barcelona was in an excellent position to reach the semi-final after a 3-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in Paris in the first stage of their quarter-final draw. But a second leg capitulation saw the Catalans leave the competition – and although it seems as if comparable could have happened in Dortmund, it turned out not to be the case.
It is clear to see that Barcelona is making progress under film, even if it is not as much as many people have thought. They are well placed for a historic Treble from La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey, and in the coming weeks will be crucial or that ambitions can become a reality.
The goal for Barcelona is to keep winning competitions. The defeat in Dortmund was their first in 2025, and Flick's task will now be to ensure that a new undefeated run starts before his side.
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