Barcelona face off against Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona and the match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two European heavyweights.
Barcelona, under the guidance of Hansi Flick, enter the game as favorites in the competition, showcasing some of the most dynamic attacking football in Europe this season. The Catalan side is chasing a treble, leading La Liga by four points and preparing for a Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid later this month.
They’ve been in scintillating form, remaining unbeaten in 22 matches across all competitions, with 18 wins, since their last defeat to Atletico Madrid in December.
Key players like Raphinha, who leads the Champions League with 11 goals, and Robert Lewandowski, who has a prolific record against Dortmund (27 goals in 26 games from his Bayern days), will be central to their strategy.
However, Barcelona will be without Dani Olmo due to a muscular injury, alongside long-term absentees Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Casado, and Marc Bernal. Inigo Martinez is doubtful but could return, while Ronald Araujo’s presence in the squad is a boost, though he’s unlikely to start.
Borussia Dortmund, managed by Niko Kovac since February after Nuri Sahin’s brief stint, arrive with a mixed domestic campaign, sitting eighth in the Bundesliga but showing signs of recovery with back-to-back wins against Mainz and Freiburg.
In Europe, they’ve been resilient, reaching last season’s final and scoring in each of their last 11 Champions League away games. Striker Serhou Guirassy, with 25 goals this season (10 in the Champions League), poses a significant threat.
Dortmund’s defense, however, has been plagued by injuries, with Niklas Sule and Waldemar Anton sidelined, potentially forcing Emre Can into an unfamiliar center-back role alongside Nico Schlotterbeck. Karim Adeyemi and Maximilian Beier are doubtful, adding to their challenges.
Historically, Barcelona hold the edge, unbeaten in four previous meetings with Dortmund (2 wins, 2 draws), including a 3-2 thriller in December 2024 during the league phase, where Ferran Torres scored twice off the bench.
Dortmund have yet to beat a Spanish side without conceding in their last nine Champions League encounters, a stat that could haunt them against Barcelona’s potent attack.
Expect a high-octane clash, with Barcelona’s attacking flair likely to test Dortmund’s patched-up defense, while the German side’s counter-attacking threat could exploit any complacency.
