Guirassy Double Helps Dortmund Thrash Villarreal in Champions League
Key Takeaways
- Serhou Guirassy's brace led the way, including a stoppage-time header to break the deadlock and a quick recovery goal after his penalty was saved
- Juan Foyth's 52nd-minute red card for handball following VAR review turned the match decisively in Dortmund's favor
- Dortmund controlled 64 percent of possession with 91 percent passing accuracy, moving to 10 points and strengthening their bid for a top-eight finish and automatic Round of 16 qualification
Aue, Germany — Borussia Dortmund delivered a commanding performance at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday night, thrashing Villarreal 4-0 to strengthen their position in the UEFA Champions League league phase. The German side's emphatic victory was highlighted by Serhou Guirassy's first-half opener and subsequent second-half strike that ignited the passionate home supporters.
After a period of sustained pressure, Dortmund finally broke the deadlock in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Guirassy found the net with a header from very close range to the high center of the goal, connecting with Aaron Anselmino's delivery following a corner. The goal rewarded Dortmund's persistence after dominating possession throughout the opening period.
The match turned decisively in Dortmund's favor early in the second half when Villarreal's Juan Foyth received a straight red card in the 52nd minute following a VAR review for handball in the penalty area. Though Guirassy's initial penalty was saved by Luiz Júnior, the striker made amends just moments later, scoring his second of the night in the 54th minute with a right-footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner following a set piece situation.
With the numerical advantage firmly in their favor, Dortmund continued to showcase their quality. Karim Adeyemi extended the lead further in the 58th minute, finding the bottom left corner with a left-footed shot from the center of the box. The goal exemplified Dortmund's clinical edge as they thrived against the depleted Spanish side.
Daniel Svensson put the exclamation point on an impressive evening for the hosts in the fifth minute of stoppage time, powering a header from very close range to the bottom left corner after Pascal Groß delivered a pinpoint cross. The final goal capped a dominant display where Dortmund controlled 64 percent of possession and completed an impressive 91 percent of their passes.
The comprehensive victory moves Borussia Dortmund to 10 points from five matches in the Champions League league phase, significantly boosting their chances of securing a top-eight finish and direct qualification to the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Villarreal remain rooted near the bottom of the standings with just one point from five matches, their elimination from European competition already confirmed as they sit in 33rd position in the 36-team table.