Borussia Dortmund Defeats Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 to Advance to UEFA Champions League Knockout Phase, Serhou Guirassy Scores Twice in Crucial Win

Borussia Dortmund earned a 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, securing their place in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase playoffs.

Serhou Guirassy played a pivotal role, scoring twice in the first half. His first goal came in the 17th minute when he controlled a shot from Karim Adeyemi, guiding it past the goalkeeper with his thigh. Guirassy added a second just before halftime in the 45th minute, finishing a pass from Julian Brandt after taking a touch to set himself up.

Ramy Bensebaini sealed the win in the 79th minute, chipping the ball coolly into the net. Although Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel had an error that allowed Marlon Gomes to score for Shakhtar, Dortmund maintained control and secured the three points. The win placed Dortmund 10th in the group stage with 15 points, advancing to the knockout round, while Shakhtar finished 27th with 7 points and was eliminated from the competition.

In the aftermath, it was announced that Croatian coach Niko Kovač would take over as head coach of Dortmund, replacing Nuri Şahin, who had been dismissed due to poor results. Kovač, a former Bundesliga player and coach, is set to begin his tenure on Sunday. In the meantime, Mike Tullberg, who has been managing the team since Şahin’s departure, will continue to lead Dortmund in their upcoming Bundesliga match against Heidenheim.

Looking forward, Dortmund will face either Club Brugge or Sporting CP in a two-legged playoff to secure a spot in the Champions League Round of 16. Guirassy, reflecting on the team's performance, expressed confidence in their prospects for the upcoming playoff matches.