Borussia Dortmund's star striker Serou Girassi (29, Dortmund) has been selected as the 'Player of the Week' for the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg.

On the 17th (Korean time), UEFA announced on its official website the player who performed the best in the 2024-2025 season UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg, and the protagonist was Dortmund's striker Serou Girassi.

Dortmund won 3-1 against Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg held at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, on the 16th at 4 a.m. After suffering a large defeat of 0-4 in the first leg, Dortmund staged a fierce comeback in the second leg, with Girassi at the center of the action.

Girassi, who started as the main striker in the match, showed a threatening presence from the beginning. In the 11th minute of the first half, he calmly finished a penalty kick opportunity to score the opening goal.

His performance continued in the second half. In the 49th minute, he scored the team's second goal by heading in a corner kick from Ramy Bensebaini. In the 76th minute, he quickly seized a loose ball that the opposing defense failed to clear and completed his hat trick with a left-footed finish.

Although Dortmund won 3-1, they had to taste disappointment with a cumulative score of 3-5 over the two legs, resulting in elimination. Nevertheless, Girassi was recognized for his significant role in the team's victory and was selected as the Player of the Match (POTM), setting a milestone as the first African player to achieve a hat trick in Champions League quarterfinals.

Girassi was selected as the 'Player of the Week for the second leg of the quarterfinals' by UEFA, surpassing PSG's Ousmane Dembélé, Arsenal's Declan Rice, and Inter Milan's Lautaro Martínez.

Originally from Guinea, Girassi gained European experience playing for Stade Lavallois, Lille, and Cologne, and last year made a mark in Europe with an overwhelming performance of 30 goals and 3 assists in 30 matches for Stuttgart. Based on this, Dortmund acquired him in the summer transfer window.

This season, despite his team's ups and downs, Girassi continues to shine. Dortmund currently remains in 8th place in the Bundesliga with 12 wins, 5 draws, and 11 losses, but Girassi has recorded 28 goals and 9 assists in 40 matches across various competitions, demonstrating a strong presence.

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