Barcelona Crush Dortmund 4-0 in Champions League Quarterfinal First Leg
Barcelona delivered a stunning performance on Wednesday night, defeating Borussia Dortmund 4-0 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. With goals from Robert Lewandowski (2), Raphinha, and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, the Catalan giants took a giant step toward the semifinals. The return leg is scheduled to be played next Tuesday in Germany, but with a four-goal cushion, Barça have put themselves in a commanding position.
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From the opening whistle, Barcelona displayed energy and intent, pressing high and pushing forward with purpose. The home fans barely had time to settle into their seats before Barça launched their first major threat in the 5th minute. The move began with a brilliant backheel pass from Lewandowski to Fermín López, who swiftly released Lamine Yamal on the right wing. The young winger charged into the box and unleashed a powerful shot, but Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was equal to it, diving to make a spectacular save and keep the scores level.
Yamal wasn't done yet. Just a minute later, he capitalized on a loose ball and burst down the right side once more. He cut inside and fired from a tight angle, narrowly missing the far post, showing early signs that he was going to be a major threat throughout the game.
Barcelona’s persistence paid off in the 25th minute when they finally found the breakthrough. A cross from Íñigo Martínez found its way to the far post, where young defender Pau Cubarsí managed to nudge it into the danger area. Although the ball appeared destined for the net, Raphinha pounced with a final touch to make sure it crossed the line. The goal was initially met with uncertainty due to a possible offside, but after a quick VAR check, it was confirmed, sparking celebrations across the stadium.
Dortmund struggled to get a foothold in the game during the first half, but they did have a moment of danger in the 41st minute. A defensive mishap by Cubarsí inside the box gave Dortmund a glimmer of hope, but the young center-back recovered quickly and blocked the ensuing shot, averting disaster.
As the first half drew to a close, Dortmund had perhaps their best chance when Karim Adeyemi whipped in a dangerous cross into the six-yard box. Striker Serhou Guirassy lunged to get a touch, but missed it by inches, letting Barcelona off the hook just before halftime.
The second half started with a scare for Barcelona as Jamie Bynoe-Gittens fired a powerful shot over the bar within seconds of the restart. But Barça responded in perfect fashion. In the 48th minute, Lamine Yamal raced down the right flank once again, sending in a perfect cross to the back post. Raphinha met it with a clever header into the center, where Lewandowski was waiting to finish clinically and double Barcelona’s lead.
Barcelona continued their dominance, and in the 66th minute, they added a third goal. Fermín carried the ball forward and slipped a pass into Yamal, who in turn found Lewandowski in space. The Polish striker struck with precision and power, beating Kobel at the near post.
The final blow came in the 77th minute. A swift counter-attack saw Raphinha feed Yamal with a beautiful pass. The 16-year-old showed great composure and technique, blasting a left-footed shot low into the corner, giving Kobel no chance.
Barcelona maintained control until the final whistle, with their defense standing strong and their attack continuing to look dangerous. With a 4-0 advantage heading into the second leg, Xavi’s men are now firm favorites to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time in several years.
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