Barcelona`s strong season continues as they face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarterfinals. Both teams are aiming for a spot in the semifinals.
Barcelona is having a great season and is considered a contender to win the Champions League for the first time in ten years. Coach Hansi Flick has revitalized the team. Players like Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha have been performing excellently and are expected to be important in this match. Dani Olmo will miss the game due to injury.
For Dortmund, the Champions League is their last chance to achieve something significant this season. Coach Niko Kovac took over in January and has improved the team`s stability, but Dortmund is currently eighth in the Bundesliga. They might not qualify for European competitions next season if their league performance doesn`t improve. Dortmund will be missing key players for this game, including Pascal Gross (suspended), Marcel Sabitzer, and Nico Schlotterbeck (injured).
Here’s what you should know before the match.
Match Details
- Date: Wednesday, April 9
- Location: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys — Barcelona, Spain
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Barcelona -290; Draw +440; Borussia Dortmund +650
Previous Match
The last time these teams played, Barcelona won 3-2 in the group stage. The game was tied 0-0 at halftime. Raphinha scored first for Barcelona, but Guirassy quickly equalized for Dortmund. Torres put Barcelona ahead again, and Guirassy equalized again with a penalty. Torres then scored the winning goal for Barcelona in the 85th minute.
Barcelona`s Perspective
This game against Borussia Dortmund is Barcelona`s fifth game in two weeks, part of a stretch of nine games in 29 days. They recently drew 1-1 against Real Betis, but it didn`t hurt their La Liga chances much because Real Madrid also lost. Barcelona might be feeling tired due to the busy schedule. Coach Hansi Flick is focused on getting through each game.
Flick mentioned being happy with the draw against Betis because it kept them ahead in the league. He acknowledged that some games are difficult when opponents defend deeply. He believes the team is performing well and they made necessary changes during the Betis match. He also noted the team tried hard in the second half.
Flick is expected to use some of the same starters from the Betis game, such as Lewandowski and Yamal. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is likely to start both Champions League quarterfinal games, even though Marc-Andre ter Stegen is returning from injury. Ter Stegen, Barcelona`s usual first-choice goalkeeper, aims to return soon but doesn`t have a specific date in mind.
Ter Stegen said he feels physically better than ever after his injury recovery and is eager to play. He is ready to play when the coach thinks he is ready.
Borussia Dortmund`s Perspective
Dortmund knows they are the underdogs in this matchup, especially with Schlotterbeck out for the season due to injury. They won 4-1 against Freiburg without him recently, but playing against Barcelona in the Champions League is a much bigger challenge.
Dortmund captain Emre Can discussed the team`s struggles this season. He doesn`t think there`s a general attitude problem, but suggested that some players might not always give 100% effort in every Bundesliga game. He emphasized that players need to trust teammates less and work harder individually in every match. He believes this mentality needs to change.
Despite being considered underdogs, Dortmund still has ambitions to win.
Can stated that while Dortmund isn`t a top team currently, they are a big club with the goal of winning titles.
Projected Lineups
Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha
Borussia Dortmund: Gregor Kobel, Waldemar Anton, Emre Can, Ramy Bensebaini, Julian Ryerson, Carney Chukwuemeka, Pascal Gross, Julian Brandt, Daniel Svensson, Serhou Guirassy, Karim Adeyemi
Player to Watch
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona: Lamine Yamal is becoming a key player for Barcelona. He has already scored 13 goals and provided 17 assists in his second professional season, performing well in important games. Barcelona will likely aim for a big win in the first leg to manage their busy schedule, and Yamal is expected to be crucial in achieving this.
Key Match Story
Barcelona`s Busy Schedule: Barcelona`s players are mostly available, but their fitness is a concern due to many games in a short period. This busy schedule makes it harder to win three trophies this season. While Barcelona is still favored, their fatigue could give Dortmund an opportunity.
Match Prediction
Even with a tiring schedule, Barcelona should still be strong enough to beat Dortmund, who haven`t been as good as last season when they reached the Champions League final. It might not be Barcelona`s best performance, but they should win and get a good advantage for the second leg. Prediction: Barcelona 3, Borussia Dortmund 1
