Coming off a frustrating draw against Real Betis in La Liga over the weekend, Hansi Flick’s side quickly put that result behind them. Despite dropping points, Barcelona extended their lead atop the La Liga table to four points, as Real Madrid suffered a shock home defeat. But European ambitions were the focus midweek as they welcomed a familiar foe in Dortmund—whom they had narrowly beaten 3-2 in the group stage last December on German soil.
Barcelona had never lost to Dortmund in five previous meetings, and Wednesday night proved no different. With this latest victory, Flick maintained his perfect record against the Ruhr club, bringing his personal tally to eight wins in eight encounters.
For Dortmund, the trip to Spain was always going to be an uphill battle. Barca were riding an extraordinary 22-game unbeaten run across all competitions, with 18 wins in that stretch. Spain has historically been a difficult destination for the German club—managing just 3 wins in 20 away matches on Spanish soil. Their last visit saw a heavy 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid earlier this season.
The recent form didn’t offer much hope either. Under coach Niko Kovač, Dortmund have struggled for consistency, winning only 3 of their last 6 matches and currently sitting a disappointing 8th in the Bundesliga. Taking even a single point from the Nou Camp seemed a tough ask—victory was near impossible. And so it proved, as Dortmund left with nothing but a bruised ego.
From the opening whistle, Barcelona applied relentless pressure. After several missed chances, they found the breakthrough in the 25th minute. Pau Cubarsí’s free-kick forced a defensive scramble, and Raphinha pounced with a close-range finish to open the scoring. It was the only real highlight of the first half, with both teams otherwise struggling to find rhythm in the final third.
The second half, however, saw Barca shift gears. Just three minutes in, Yamal floated a precise cross to Raphinha, who nodded the ball across goal for Lewandowski to slot home unmarked, doubling the lead. Less than 20 minutes later, Yamal again made his mark, racing down the right flank to lay off a perfect ball for Fermín López, who in turn set up Lewandowski for his second of the night. At 3-0, the game was effectively over—but the hosts weren’t done.
Barcelona’s 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal capped off a sensational performance with a goal of his own. After receiving a pinpoint assist from Raphinha, Yamal fired home to seal a 4-0 demolition, putting one foot firmly into the semifinals for the Blaugrana.
With a four-goal cushion, Flick’s men can approach the second leg at Signal Iduna Park with confidence. But caution remains—Barcelona have been guilty of famous collapses in the Champions League despite holding commanding first-leg leads. The rematch in Germany promises drama, and fans on both sides will be watching closely to see if Dortmund can produce a miracle comeback.
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