Exclusive by Alessandro Schiavone
By Alessandro Schiavone at Signal Iduna Park
Borussia Dortmund 2-3 Barcelona
**Goals**: Guirassy 2x (D), Torres 2x & Raphinha (B)
Debt-ridden Barcelona are looking like the force of old again after inflicting a first home defeat on Borussia Dortmund since the days of Erik ten Hag’s Ajax.
But there was again no space for tried-and-trusted former Arsenal gloveman Wojciech Szczesny between the sticks with Barcelona manager Hansi Flick sticking with _canterano_ Inaki Peña.
He was one of seven players to come out of _La Masia_ in Barca’s XI yesterday. But Peña didn’t cover himself in glory when he mistimed Yann Couto’s through ball which ex-Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross got first to before he played it to Guirassy to roll into an empty net from outside the box to make it 2-2.
Prior to that ex-Leeds winger Raphina got the beating of Gregor Kobel when he made the most of Dani Olmo’s quick thinking before firing into the far corner to give the visitors the lead
Before Guirassy restored parity from the spot before repeating the feat with a headed finish. But _super sub_ Ferran Torres scored either side of the Guinean’s brace to get his name twice on the scoresheet himself with a follow-up and a clinical finish late on. In doing so the ex-Man City man sent Barca into second place behind Liverpool with their hopes of finishing among the eight best-placed sides and claim an automatic qualification spot boosted.
But for their understudy goalkeeper it wasn’t what he expected when he picked up friend Robert Lewandowski’s call in the aftermath of Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s season-ending injury earlier this season.
But that’s a problem for the morning as the great Barcelona is back.