Barca trounce Dortmund in Champions League QF first leg

IANS April 10, 2025 192 views

Barcelona delivered a masterclass performance against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg. The Spanish giants dismantled their German opponents with a comprehensive 4-0 victory at home. Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Yamal were instrumental in the destructive attacking display. This result all but guarantees Barcelona's progression to the semifinal stage of the tournament.

"Apart from a short period, we dominated proceedings" - Match Analysis
Madrid, April 10: FC Barcelona hit top gear and all but ensured its place in the Champions League semifinal with a 4-0 win at home to Borussia Dortmund in their quarterfinal first-leg tie.

Key Points

1

Raphinha opens scoring with crucial VAR-checked goal

2

Lewandowski nets two clinical strikes

3

Young Yamal completes comprehensive victory

4

Pedri masterminds midfield performance

Apart from a short period at the end of the first half, Hansi Flick's side dominated proceedings with the attacking trio of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, with Pedri pulling the strings in midfield, tearing their rivals apart.

Barcelona was fast out of the blocks with Yamal cutting inside from the right and seeing a shot saved by Gregor Kobel.

Raphinha then worked his way along the touchline and flashed the ball across the face of goal. The Brazilian turned his side's positive start into a goal in the 25th minute, sliding in to score from very close range after Pau Cubarsi had turned Inigo Martinez's header goalwards.

The goal needed a VAR check to stand and Raphinha would have looked bad if the goal had been ruled out as Cubarsi's initial touch was going in.

Another fast attack from Barca moments later saw him send the ball wide after Yamal led a rapid break, before Dortmund began to work its way into the match.

Karim Adeyemi sent over an excellent ball from the left that was just in front of Serhou Guirassy, before Guirassy missed a better chance and Jamie Gittens saw a shot blocked.

Those were expensive misses as Robert Lewandowski doubled Barca's lead three minutes after the break, heading in from close range after Raphinha had nodded Yamal's excellent cross across the face of goal.

Barca were back on top with Fermin Lopez - preferred to Gavi in the starting 11 - hitting one shot wide and seeing another blocked by a defender, while Kobel saved from Lewandowski, who then mishit the rebound.

A third goal was coming and Lewandowski scored it with a low finish after Fermin found space down the right to pull the ball back to him following a swift break.

Yamal made it 4-0 in the 76th minute after Raphinha feed him a diagonal pass for the youngster to score with arrogant ease.

The only possibly hiccup on an excellent night was seeing Yamal ask to be taken off 10 minutes from the end, and although he didn't look seriously injured, Barca fans may be sweating on a diagnosis.

Reader Comments

M
Miguel R.
What a performance! Yamal and Raphinha were unstoppable tonight 🔥 Lewandowski showing why he's still world class at 35. That 4th goal was pure poetry!
S
Sarah K.
As a Dortmund fan, this was painful to watch 😔 Our defense was all over the place. Hope we can at least show some pride in the return leg.
J
James L.
That Yamal kid is special. 16 years old and playing with that much confidence against Dortmund? Future Ballon d'Or winner if he keeps developing like this.
A
Anika P.
While the scoreline is impressive, I think Dortmund's poor finishing made Barca look better than they were. Those early misses changed the whole game.
T
Tomás V.
Pedri's vision in midfield was incredible tonight. So many of those attacks started with him. Underrated performance among all the goalscorers!
L
Lena G.
Hope Yamal's injury isn't serious 🤞 He's been our most exciting player this season. The way he took that 4th goal... ice in his veins at 16!

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