Guirassy Double Helps Dortmund Edge Villarreal in Champions League Thriller
Borussia Dortmund began their Champions League season with a turbulent 3-2 win over Villarreal, surviving a late push from the Spanish visitors after Serhou Guirassy had swung the match decisively in their favour. The Guinea international scored twice in three minutes, won the penalty for his second goal and later had the misfortune of conceding an own goal when a Gregor Kobel save struck his face.
Villarreal had created the clearer openings before half-time and will regret failing to take one. Georges Mikautadze mishit from close range, while Tajon Buchanan drew an outstanding stop from Kobel as the German goalkeeper kept Dortmund level.
The breakthrough arrived eight minutes after the interval, although it initially went down as an own goal. Maximilian Beier delivered from the flank and Renato Veiga, attempting to intervene, diverted the ball beyond his own goalkeeper to put Dortmund ahead in the 53rd minute.
Villarreal responded through Santiago Mourino, whose improvised headed effort caught Kobel off guard and restored parity. Dortmund, however, found their decisive edge in the closing stages. Fabio Silva sent a low ball across the area in the 80th minute, allowing Guirassy to finish from close distance. Mourino then brought down the forward in the penalty area three minutes later, and Guirassy converted the spot-kick himself.
Guirassy reaches another Dortmund landmark
The match was Guirassy’s 100th outing for Dortmund, and his double took him to 64 goals for the club. His night did include one final twist: a Kobel save rebounded off the striker and crossed the line, giving Villarreal hope of a second equaliser.
Villarreal pressed through stoppage time, but could not complete the comeback. Veiga came close to making amends at the other end, only to deflect a late opportunity wide in the closing moments.
Guirassy’s broader European record remains exceptional. Since the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign, he has contributed directly to 26 goals in 25 Champions League appearances, a total surpassed in the competition only by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
For Villarreal, the defeat extended a difficult record away from home in Europe, although their attacking performance was a marked improvement on last season, when they did not score in any of four Champions League away fixtures. They now return to Liga duty at home to Real Betis, who recently beat Lille 3-2 in Europe.
Dortmund will seek to carry the momentum into domestic competition when they host Paderborn in their next Bundesliga fixture.
