Dortmund vs. Barcelona: Champions League Quarterfinal Preview

After a dominant 4-0 victory in the first leg at home, Barcelona travels to Germany to face Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in the return leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. Barcelona, currently leading La Liga, showcased their strength in the first match with goals from Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and a double from Robert Lewandowski. This game marks Lewandowski`s return to his former stadium, where he starred for Dortmund from 2010 to 2014 under Jurgen Klopp.

Barcelona is heavily favored to advance to the Champions League semifinals, where they are likely to face the winner of the Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich quarterfinal. The semifinal first leg is scheduled for April 29-30, with the second leg a week later.

Match Details

• Date: Tuesday, April 15
• Location: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

First Leg Recap

Barcelona secured a convincing 4-0 win at home against Borussia Dortmund. Raphinha opened the scoring early, followed by two goals from former Dortmund striker Lewandowski, and a final goal from young talent Lamine Yamal. This victory highlighted Barcelona`s strong form this season.

Barcelona`s Perspective

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick addressed the media before the game in Dortmund. He acknowledged the positive result in the first leg but emphasized that the return match would be challenging. Flick stressed the importance of maintaining focus and performing well for both themselves and the fans. He reiterated the team`s commitment to playing their best and taking each game seriously, especially a Champions League quarterfinal against Dortmund at their home ground.

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.

Player Spotlight

Raphinha, FC Barcelona: The Brazilian winger is in excellent form, having scored the first goal in the previous leg. This season, he has impressively contributed with 28 goals and 22 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions. His outstanding performances have led to discussions about him potentially being a Ballon d`Or contender in 2025, especially if Barcelona achieves Champions League success.

Key Storyline

Lewandowski`s Dortmund Return: Robert Lewandowski`s return to Signal Iduna Park is a major talking point. He played for Dortmund from 2010 to 2014, scoring 74 goals in 131 matches and winning two Bundesliga titles under Jurgen Klopp. This game is expected to be an emotional experience for the Polish striker as he faces his former club.

Match Prediction

Barcelona is expected to secure another victory and advance to the semifinals, building on their comfortable first-leg lead. They are predicted to face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich in the next round.

Prediction: FC Barcelona 3, Borussia Dortmund 1.

Champions League Quarterfinals Schedule

All times U.S./Eastern