Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy (29) made headlines with his remarkable hat-trick in the 3-1 Champions League victory against Barcelona on Tuesday, setting three new records in the process.
The Guinea international showcased his talent at Signal Iduna Park, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for the Bundesliga outfit to advance to the semi-finals.
By scoring three times against the Spanish side, Guirassy became the first African player in the history of the competition to notch up 12 goals in a single season.
This achievement surpassed the previous record shared by Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Senegal’s Sadio Mane, who both recorded 10 goals during the 2017/18 Champions League campaign with Liverpool.
Moreover, his outstanding performance against Hansi Flick’s team made him the fourth player from Dortmund to score a hat-trick in the Champions League.
Robert Lewandowski was the inaugural player to mark this achievement in April 2013 against Real Madrid, followed by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Benfica in March 2017, and most recently, Germany international Karim Adeyemi against Celtic in October 2024.
Notably, Guirassy also became the ninth African player to score twice or more in a single match within Europe’s premier club competition, joining a distinguished list that includes Yakubu Ayegbeni (Nigeria), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Yacine Brahimi (Algeria), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Sadio Mane (Senegal), and Sebastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire).
Despite the setback, the former Stuttgart player took away some positives and valuable lessons.
“I feel proud because we put in a fantastic performance, and I believe the fans were very pleased. They witnessed some quality football,” Guirassy expressed to Prime after the encounter.
“The 4-0 loss in Barcelona was perhaps a bit too steep to recover from. It’s disappointing that we found ourselves so far behind in such a crucial match. But we can learn from this experience for future contests.
“We fought until the final whistle. Barcelona are a top-notch team, and we are also a strong side. It’s wonderful to be the leading goalscorer in the Champions League amidst such talented players.
“Being at the top highlights my capabilities as a striker, but it’s a team effort. It’s a shame that our journey in this competition ends here.”
Borussia Dortmund will now redirect their attention to the Bundesliga, aiming for a place in European competition next season. They are set to host Borussia Monchengladbach this Sunday.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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