Dortmund vs. Barcelona: Champions League Quarter-Final Preview

Following a dominant 4-0 victory in the first leg at home, Barcelona, led by Hansi Flick in La Liga, travel to Germany to face Borussia Dortmund in the return leg at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday. In the first match in Spain, Barcelona showcased their strength with goals from Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and a double from Robert Lewandowski. This game marks Lewandowski`s return to his former stadium where he played from 2010 to 2014, a period of significant success for Dortmund under Jurgen Klopp. Barcelona are widely expected to advance to the Champions League semi-finals, where they are likely to face the winner of the quarter-final clash between Inter and Bayern Munich. The semi-final first leg is scheduled for April 29-30, with the second leg a week later.

Here’s a look at the key aspects of the match:

Match Details and Betting Odds

• Date: Tuesday, April 15
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Location: SIGNAL IDUNA PARK — Dortmund, Germany
• Live stream: Paramount+
• Odds: BVB +300; Draw +300; FC Barcelona -125

First Leg Recap

Barcelona secured a convincing 4-0 victory in the first leg at their home ground. Raphinha opened the scoring early, followed by two goals from former Dortmund striker Lewandowski, and a final goal from young talent Lamine Yamal. This performance was one of the highlights of Hansi Flick`s team this season.

Barcelona`s Perspective

Hansi Flick, the former Bayern coach, addressed the media before Tuesday`s match. He stated, `While we were pleased with the 4-0 win in Barcelona, we anticipate a challenging game tomorrow. The team needs to enjoy the occasion, and we are prepared. We aim to perform well for ourselves and for our travelling supporters. We are maintaining focus solely on the Dortmund game and not looking beyond. Our football philosophy is to always strive for excellence. We recognize the quality within our squad and are approaching this one game at a time. Playing Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals at their stadium will always be a tough task. We need to be at 100% concentration.`

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.

Key Player to Watch

Raphinha, FC Barcelona: The Brazilian winger was instrumental in the first leg, scoring the opening goal. He has had a remarkable season, already tallying 28 goals and 22 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions. His impressive form has sparked discussions about him being a potential Ballon d`Or contender in 2025, especially if Barcelona achieves significant team success in the coming weeks, such as winning the Champions League.

Match Storyline

Lewandowski`s Return to Dortmund: This match is particularly significant as it marks Robert Lewandowski`s return to Dortmund. He played for Dortmund from 2010 to 2014, scoring 74 goals in 131 matches and winning two Bundesliga titles under Jurgen Klopp. After a successful stint with Bayern Munich (2014-2022), Lewandowski joined Barcelona in 2022 and has quickly become a vital player. This game will be an emotional homecoming for the Polish striker as he faces his former club.

Match Prediction

Given Barcelona`s commanding 4-0 lead from the first leg, they are favored to win this return fixture and advance to the semi-finals. They are expected to face the winner of the Inter vs Bayern Munich tie.

Prediction: FC Barcelona 3, BVB 1.

Champions League Quarterfinals Schedule

All times U.S./Eastern