Barcelona arrive in Germany with one foot already in the semi-finals after a commanding 4-0 victory in the first leg against Borussia Dortmund. The Spanish giants, led by Hansi Flick, look increasingly like a side on a historic run, combining attacking flair with tactical discipline as they push for a remarkable quadruple.
Despite the scoreline, the first leg wasn’t without moments of vulnerability. Dortmund created chances—most notably through Serhou Guirassy and Jamie Gittens—but lacked the composure and ruthlessness needed to convert. Barcelona punished those lapses ruthlessly, with Raphinha at the heart of everything, contributing a goal and two assists in a standout display.
Dortmund, meanwhile, showed a much more structured and determined performance in their weekend clash with Bayern Munich, earning a hard-fought 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena. Niko Kovac switched to a more defensive setup, which brought stability and allowed players like Niklas Süle and Pascal Gross to shine. The return of Maxi Beier to the scoresheet and Gregor Kobel’s heroics in goal offered glimpses of hope.
Still, overturning a four-goal deficit against a team unbeaten in 24 matches across all competitions is a mammoth task. Barcelona’s depth and momentum make them heavy favorites to see the job through. However, Dortmund will be desperate to restore pride and give their home fans something to cheer. Expect them to come out swinging in what promises to be an open and emotionally charged encounter at Signal Iduna Park.
With Flick possibly rotating ahead of a key league fixture, there could be opportunities for fringe players like Ferran Torres to impress. Meanwhile, Lewandowski sits just one goal away from a century in Barcelona colors—a milestone he’ll be eager to hit against his former Bundesliga rivals.
All signs point to another entertaining clash, even if the overall outcome may already be beyond doubt.
