BARCELONA, Spain – FC Barcelona on Wednesday night showed their might by defeating Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
The match kicked off with Barcelona displaying an aggressive attacking style, quickly putting Dortmund on the back foot. The home team’s Raphinha opened the scoring in the 25th minute, benefitting from a well-placed header by Pau Cubarsí, who had a slight touch from Raphinha, making the goal legal after a tense VAR check.
Barcelona continued to dominate the game, showcasing their high possession rate of 60.3% to Dortmund’s 39.7%. Lewandowski capitalized on a defensive error from the Germans, netting his first goal in the 48th minute and adding a second shortly after in the 66th minute, this time assisted by Fermín. Lamine Yamal capped off the scoring with a long-range effort in the 76th minute.
Lamine, the young starlet, once again proven instrumental, contributing to the first goal alongside Raphinha and Lewandowski. After the match, he expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Everyone in the team is so connected. It’s a great feeling to perform well and help us get closer to the semifinals.”
In stark contrast, Borussia Dortmund struggled to capitalize on any of their limited opportunities. Coach Niko Kovac called for better tactical adjustments, admitting, “We need to be sharper in the next game. We have to exploit any chance we get against teams like Barcelona.”
Barcelona not only maintained their offensive prowess but also demonstrated resilience in defense, with their goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny making key saves to keep Dortmund at bay. The home side’s approach was further accentuated by a strong performance from Frenkie de Jong, who led the midfield with exceptional passing accuracy, completing 97.1% of his passes.
As the victory boosts the team’s confidence heading into the second leg, Barcelona fans are optimistic about their first semifinal appearance since 2019. The players celebrated with their supporters, sending a message across Europe: “We are ready!”
The second leg will take place in Dortmund, where Barcelona hopes to maintain their lead and secure a place in the semifinals. Speaking on the next match, Lewandowski said, “We are focused on continuing our momentum. The job is not finished yet.”
