Barcelona returns to the Champions League semi-finals after 6 years!

FC Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a 5-3 aggregate score against Borussia Dortmund. The team led by Hansi Flick made the most of the four-goal advantage obtained in Montjuïc in the first leg and, despite falling in Germany (3-1), broke the spell of six consecutive seasons without being able to advance to the stage prior to the final in the top European competition.

In 12 matches, Barça has 9 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses, with a total of 37 goals in favor and 17 against. The team averages 3.08 goals per match (tournament leader) and remains undefeated at home, with 5 wins against Young Boys (5-0), Bayern Munich (4-1), Brest (3-0), Benfica (3-1) and Dortmund (4-0), in addition to a draw against Atalanta (2-2).

For the moment, the only stumbles (2-1 in the debut against Monaco and 3-1 against Borussia) have been inconsequential for a team that, after falling in the Principality, was undefeated for 10 matches (24 in all competitions this 2025). In 'semis', Flick's team awaits Inter Milan or Bayern Munich, with the Italians being the favorites to qualify after the 1-2 obtained in the first leg in Munich.

Barça will play its 17th Champions League semi-final

For Barça, this will be their seventeenth semi-final in the European Cup, the 12th of the Champions era. The balance, for the moment, is seven qualifications to the final (1960-61, 1985-86, 1993-94, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11 and 2014-15) and nine eliminations, the last of them in 2018-19 (against Liverpool, 4-3 on aggregate).

In the 1991-92 edition, the first 'azulgrana' coronation, a league was played prior to the final at Wembley, where the 'culés' defeated Sampdoria (0-1). Next, we review how the Catalans have fared in the qualifiers prior to the final, from their first participation in this phase in 1960 to their last appearance in 2019.

⚽These were the results obtained by the 'azulgrana' team in the 'semis' of the European Cup:

1. 🔴1959-60: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. Result: Eliminated (1-3 in Madrid, 1-3 in Barcelona; 2-6 on aggregate). Real Madrid advanced to the final and won the title.
2. 🟢1960-61: Barcelona vs. Hamburg: Result: Qualified (1-0 in Barcelona, 1-2 in Hamburg; 2-2 on aggregate, won 1-0 in the tiebreaker). Barcelona reached the final, but lost 2-3 to Benfica.
3. 🔴1974-75: Barcelona vs. Leeds United. Result: Eliminated (1-2 in Leeds, 1-1 in Barcelona; 2-3 on aggregate). Leeds advanced to the final, but lost 2-0 to Bayern Munich.
4. 🟢1985-86: Barcelona vs. IFK Göteborg. Result: Qualified (0-3 in Gothenburg, 3-0 in Barcelona; 3-3 on aggregate, won 5-4 on penalties). Barcelona reached the final, but lost 0-2 to Steaua Bucharest on penalties.

⚽These were the results obtained by the 'azulgrana' team in the 'semis' of the Champions League:

1. 🟢1993-94: Barcelona vs. Porto. Result: Qualified (3-0 in Barcelona, single match). Barcelona reached the final, but lost 0-4 to Milan.
2. 🔴1999-00: Barcelona vs. Valencia. Result: Eliminated (1-4 in Valencia, 2-1 in Barcelona; 3-5 on aggregate). Valencia advanced to the final, but lost to Real Madrid (3-0).
3. 🔴2001-02: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. Result: Eliminated (0-2 in Barcelona, 1-1 in Madrid; 1-3 on aggregate). Real Madrid advanced to the final and won the title.
4. 🟢2005-06: Barcelona vs. Milan. Result: Qualified (1-0 in Milan, 0-0 in Barcelona; 1-0 on aggregate). Barcelona reached the final and won 2-1 against Arsenal, achieving their second title.
5. 🔴2007-08: Barcelona vs. Manchester United. Result: Eliminated (0-0 in Barcelona, 0-1 in Manchester; 0-1 on aggregate). Manchester United advanced to the final and won the title.
6. 🟢2008-09: Barcelona vs. Chelsea. Result: Qualified (0-0 in Barcelona, 1-1 in London; 1-1 on aggregate, the 'culés' advanced by the away goal rule). Barcelona reached the final and won 2-0 against Manchester United, achieving their third title and their first treble.
7. 🔴2009-10: Barcelona vs. Inter Milan. Result: Eliminated (1-3 in Milan, 1-0 in Barcelona; 2-3 on aggregate). Inter advanced to the final and won the title and the treble.
8. 🟢2010-11: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. Result: Qualified (2-0 in Madrid, 1-1 in Barcelona; 3-1 on aggregate). Barcelona reached the final and won 3-1 against Manchester United, achieving their fourth title.
9. 🔴2011-12: Barcelona vs. Chelsea. Result: Eliminated (0-1 in London, 2-2 in Barcelona; 2-3 on aggregate). Chelsea advanced to the final and won the title.
10. 🔴2012-13: Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich. Result: Eliminated (0-4 in Munich, 0-3 in Barcelona; 0-7 on aggregate). Bayern advanced to the final and won the title and the treble.
11. 🟢2014-15: Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich. Result: Qualified (3-0 in Barcelona, 2-3 in Munich; 5-3 on aggregate). Barcelona reached the final and won 3-1 against Juventus, achieving their fifth title and their second treble.
12. 🔴2018-19: Barcelona vs. Liverpool. Result: Eliminated (3-0 in Barcelona, 0-4 in Liverpool; 3-4 on aggregate). Liverpool advanced to the final and won the title.

⚽Summary:

• Total semi-finals played: 16.
• Qualifications to the final: 7 (1960-61, 1985-86, 1993-94, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15).
• Eliminations: 9 (1959-60, 1974-75, 1999-00, 2001-02, 2007-08, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2018-19).
• Titles won after semi-finals: 5 (1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015).
• Note: The 1992 title did not have traditional semi-finals, as a league was played prior to the final.

Will Barça be able to advance to their ninth Champions League final with Hansi Flick at the helm? We will have to wait for the tie to be played between Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, May 7. At FCBN, as always, we will keep you updated on all the 'azulgrana' news in the final stretch of 2024-25.