Borussia Dortmund held on to beat Villarreal 3-2 at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday evening, with Serhou Guirassy scoring twice in an intense UEFA Champions League league-phase contest.
The German side appeared to be heading for a comfortable victory after Guirassy’s second goal put them 3-1 ahead, but a late own goal from the Guinea international gave Villarreal renewed hope in stoppage time. Dortmund survived the Spanish side’s final pressure to claim a valuable three points.
The opening half was evenly contested, with neither team able to break the deadlock. Both sides went into the interval without scoring, leaving the match finely balanced after 45 minutes.
Dortmund made the breakthrough seven minutes after the restart. Renato Veiga turned the ball into his own net in the 52nd minute, giving the hosts the lead and changing the momentum of the game.
Villarreal responded 13 minutes later. Santiago Mourino levelled in the 65th minute to bring the visitors back into the contest and put Dortmund’s advantage under immediate pressure.
The decisive spell then belonged to Guirassy. The Borussia Dortmund forward restored his team’s lead in the 79th minute, finishing to make it 2-1 and put the home side back in front.
Five minutes later, Dortmund were awarded a penalty following an intervention by the video assistant referee. Guirassy stepped up and converted from the spot in the 84th minute, completing his double and extending the advantage to 3-1.
The match still had one more twist. In the third minute of added time, Guirassy unfortunately scored an own goal, reducing Villarreal’s deficit to 3-2 and setting up a tense finish at Signal Iduna Park.
Villarreal pressed for an equaliser during the closing seconds, while Dortmund were forced to withstand the visitors’ late pressure. The home side ultimately held firm, preserving their narrow lead and securing victory in a demanding UEFA Champions League encounter.
The result saw Borussia Dortmund come through a fluctuating match in which they had led, been pegged back and then regained control through Guirassy’s finishing. Villarreal’s late push ensured the final stages remained uncertain, but Dortmund’s resilience was enough to protect the 3-2 scoreline.
Guirassy’s two goals proved decisive after Dortmund had been unable to find a breakthrough in the first half. His late own goal briefly reopened the contest, yet the forward’s earlier contribution remained central to a win that gave Borussia Dortmund a significant result in the league phase.