Following a dominant 4-0 victory in the first leg at home, Barcelona, currently leading La Liga under coach Hansi Flick, travel to Germany to face Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park this Tuesday for the second leg. In the first match in Spain, Barcelona showcased their strength with goals from Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and two from Robert Lewandowski. This game marks Lewandowski`s return to his former stadium where he played from 2010 to 2014, a period remembered as highly successful for Dortmund under Jürgen Klopp. Barcelona is widely tipped to advance to the Champions League semi-finals, potentially facing either Inter or Bayern Munich, with the semi-final legs scheduled for late April.
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, April 15
- Location: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany
First Leg Recap
Barcelona secured a convincing 4-0 win at home. Raphinha opened the scoring, followed by a brace from ex-Dortmund striker Lewandowski, and a final goal from young talent Lamine Yamal. This performance was one of the highlights of Hansi Flick`s team this season.
Barcelona`s Perspective
Hansi Flick, Barcelona`s coach, addressed the media before Tuesday`s match. He acknowledged the satisfaction of the 4-0 win in the first leg but anticipates a challenging game ahead. He emphasized the importance of enjoying the game and performing well for both themselves and the traveling supporters. Flick stressed maintaining focus solely on the Dortmund game, avoiding future distractions, and aiming for their best performance. He recognized the difficulty of playing Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals at their home ground, requiring full concentration.
Projected Starting Lineups
Borussia Dortmund XI: Gregor Kobel, Waldemar Anton, Emre Can, Ramy Bensebaini, Julian Ryerson, Carney Chukwuemeka, Pascal Gross, Julian Brandt, Daniel Svensson, Serhou Guirassy, Karim Adeyemi.
FC Barcelona XI: Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Key Player Spotlight
Raphinha, FC Barcelona: The Brazilian winger was crucial in the first leg, scoring the opening goal. He has had a remarkable season, with 28 goals and 22 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions. His outstanding form has sparked discussions about him being a potential Ballon d`Or contender in 2025, especially if Barcelona achieves Champions League success.
Intriguing Storyline
Lewandowski`s Dortmund Return: Robert Lewandowski`s return to Dortmund is a major highlight. He played for Dortmund from 2010 to 2014, scoring 74 goals in 131 matches and winning two Bundesliga titles under Klopp. This game is expected to be an emotional experience for him as he faces his former club.
Match Prediction
Barcelona is favored to win this second leg following their comfortable first-leg victory and is expected to progress to the semi-finals to face the winner of the Inter vs Bayern Munich match. Prediction: FC Barcelona 3, Borussia Dortmund 1.
Champions League Quarterfinals Schedule
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, April 15 | Borussia Dortmund vs. Barcelona |
| Tuesday, April 15 | Aston Villa vs. PSG |
| Wednesday, April 16 | Inter vs. Bayern Munich |
| Wednesday, April 16 | Real Madrid vs. Arsenal |
