Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund | Champions League | Quarter-Final | 1st Leg | Pre Match
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona have firmly established themselves as the frontrunners to claim this season’s UEFA Champions League title, and their credentials ahead of the quarter-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund only solidify this perception. Under the stewardship of Hansi Flick, the Catalan giants have showcased a blend of tactical brilliance, youthful exuberance, and sheer attacking firepower that has left opponents reeling and pundits in awe. Their journey to the last eight was marked by a commanding 4-1 aggregate triumph over Benfica, a result that not only underscored their dominance but also etched their name into the competition’s storied history. Barcelona became just the third team—alongside perennial heavyweights Real Madrid and Bayern Munich—to reach 20 or more quarter-finals in the Champions League, a testament to their enduring pedigree on Europe’s grandest stage. The first leg against Benfica, a gritty 1-0 victory away from home, set the tone, but it was the second leg where their starlet Lamine Yamal truly shone. At just 17 years and 241 days, Yamal became the youngest player in Champions League history to score and assist in a single match, a record-breaking performance that encapsulated Barcelona’s blend of seasoned excellence and emerging talent. This milestone is not merely a footnote but a harbinger of what could be a golden era for the club, as they continue to unearth gems capable of competing at the highest level. Their goal-scoring exploits this season further bolster their case: with 32 Champions League goals, this campaign marks their most prolific since the 2011-12 season (35 goals), surpassed only by their record-breaking 45-goal haul in 1999-00. This attacking potency, combined with Flick’s meticulous approach, has transformed Barcelona into a juggernaut that few teams can hope to contain.
Hansi Flick’s influence on this Barcelona side cannot be overstated, as his managerial prowess has elevated them to new heights in the Champions League. Across his 28 games in the competition with Bayern Munich and now Barcelona, Flick’s teams have plundered an astonishing 89 goals—an average of 3.2 goals per game, the highest of any manager in the tournament’s history with at least one match under their belt. This statistic is not just a reflection of his attacking philosophy but also his ability to instill a relentless, goal-hungry mentality in his squads. At Barcelona, this has manifested in a forward line that is as clinical as it is creative, with Raphinha emerging as the spearhead of their offensive onslaught. The Brazilian winger has been directly involved in 16 goals across 10 Champions League appearances this season, netting 11 and assisting 5, a tally that places him among the competition’s elite. Only Lionel Messi, during his 2011-12 campaign with Barcelona (19 goal involvements—14 goals, 5 assists), has outdone Raphinha’s contribution in a single season for the club. This comparison is no small feat, as it evokes memories of Barcelona’s golden years under Pep Guardiola, when Messi and company redefined footballing excellence. Beyond the Champions League, Barcelona’s scoring spree extends across Europe’s top five leagues, where they lead the pack with an astonishing 141 goals. This remarkable output highlights the depth and versatility of Flick’s squad, which has seamlessly translated domestic form into European success. However, their recent 1-1 draw against Real Betis in La Liga—a result that snapped a run of dominance—serves as a reminder that even this formidable side is not invincible. Despite maintaining a four-point cushion over rivals Real Madrid in the league standings, the dropped points against Betis, coupled with Real Madrid’s unexpected home defeat to Valencia, suggest that Barcelona must remain vigilant as they prepare to face a resurgent Dortmund side.
Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona’s quarter-final opponents, arrive at this clash with momentum of their own, having found their stride under new manager Niko Kovac. The German outfit has begun to click into gear following a turbulent period earlier in the season, with Kovac steadying the ship since replacing Nuri Sahin in late January. Their recent 4-1 demolition of Freiburg in the Bundesliga has narrowed the gap to just five points behind a Champions League qualification spot, signaling a resurgence that could spell trouble for Barcelona. Kovac’s unbeaten run in the Champions League since taking charge adds another layer of intrigue to this matchup, as Dortmund secured their place in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Lille. This achievement marks their ninth appearance in the last eight of the competition and their first back-to-back quarter-final berths since the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, a sign of growing consistency under Kovac’s leadership. At the heart of Dortmund’s revival is Serhou Guirassy, whose 10 goals make him the joint-second top scorer in the Champions League this season, trailing only Raphinha. Guirassy’s 14 goal involvements (10 goals, 4 assists) match Mohamed Salah’s record for an African player in a single campaign (2017-18), underscoring his pivotal role in Dortmund’s attacking setup. The two sides have already crossed paths this season during the league phase, with Barcelona emerging victorious in a thrilling 3-2 encounter at Signal Iduna Park. Ferran Torres’ second-half brace off the bench proved decisive, making him just the fourth substitute in Barcelona’s Champions League history to score multiple goals in a match—a list that includes Messi, Cristian Tello, and Ivan Rakitic. That victory not only handed Dortmund their first home defeat in the competition since November 2021 (a 3-1 loss to Ajax) but also ended their longest unbeaten run on home soil in the Champions League, a streak that had spanned several seasons.
As the teams gear up for their quarter-final showdown, both face challenges with key personnel. Dortmund suffered a significant setback with the news that centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee—a blow that weakens their defensive structure at a critical juncture. In his absence, Kovac experimented with a back three of Emre Can, Waldemar Anton, and Ramy Bensebaini during the Freiburg win, a formation he may reprise against Barcelona to compensate for Schlotterbeck’s loss. Barcelona, meanwhile, will be without Dani Olmo, who sustained an adductor injury shortly after scoring against Osasuna in late March, sidelining him for this crucial tie. However, there is optimism around Iñigo Martínez, who sat out the Betis draw but is expected to be fit enough to feature in some capacity. Historically, Barcelona hold the upper hand in this matchup, remaining unbeaten across their five European encounters with Dortmund (3 wins, 2 draws), including December’s league-phase triumph. Flick, in particular, boasts a flawless record against Dortmund, winning all six of his meetings with them across his tenures at Bayern and Barcelona, with his teams averaging three goals per game and scoring at least three in five of those clashes. Dortmund, conversely, have struggled against Barcelona, failing to secure a victory in any of their five previous meetings (2 draws, 3 losses). Their broader record against Spanish sides in Europe is equally dismal, with just three wins in 20 away matches (5 draws, 12 losses), and only one victory in 10 knockout-stage games on Spanish soil—a 3-2 triumph over Sevilla in February 2021. Yet, Dortmund’s recent form in the Champions League knockout stages offers a glimmer of hope: they have lost just once in their last eight such matches (5 wins, 2 draws), with their only defeat coming in last season’s final against Real Madrid. Their current three-game winning streak in away knockout ties surpasses their combined total from the previous 17 such outings, hinting at a newfound resilience that could test Barcelona’s mettle.
In this clash of titans, Barcelona’s blend of historical dominance, attacking flair, and Flick’s tactical acumen positions them as clear favorites. Their ability to dismantle defenses with ruthless efficiency, exemplified by Raphinha’s brilliance and Yamal’s precocity, gives them an edge that few can match. Dortmund, however, are no pushovers, with Guirassy’s goal-scoring form and Kovac’s steady hand providing the tools to mount a challenge. The absence of key defenders on both sides—Schlotterbeck for Dortmund and Olmo’s injury hampering Barcelona’s depth—could turn this into a high-scoring affair, where attacking prowess trumps defensive solidity. Barcelona’s unbeaten streak against Dortmund, coupled with Flick’s perfect record against them, tilts the scales in their favor, but Dortmund’s recent knockout-stage resilience suggests they could yet spring a surprise. As the first leg looms, the stage is set for a blockbuster encounter that could define the trajectory of both teams’ Champions League campaigns, with Barcelona’s title credentials facing a stern examination from a Dortmund side eager to upset the odds.
