Barcelona Dominates Dortmund in Champions League Quarterfinal
In a commanding display at the Olympic Stadium, FC Barcelona secured a decisive 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal match on Wednesday. Raphinha opened the scoring, albeit amidst some controversy regarding the origins of the goal.
Raphinha’s Controversial Goal
Raphinha’s first goal came in the 25th minute, where he appeared to divert Pau Cubarsí’s shot into the net, a ball that was nearly across the line. Following the goal, VAR was consulted to confirm Raphinha’s onside status during the play, which ultimately was ruled in his favor.
After the goal, Raphinha acknowledged the mix-up, stating, “I was worried on the first goal if I was offside, it’s good that it was given. I apologized to Cubarsí. He told me no worries, he’d count it as an assist. I thought the ball was going wide; it was an instinctive decision.”
Barça’s Strong Offensive Performance
This goal marked Raphinha’s 12th in the Champions League this season, making him the top scorer in the tournament. He also contributed with two assists, helping Robert Lewandowski score twice and setting up Lamine Yamal for the final goal. This prolific performance brought Raphinha’s total goal contributions in the tournament to an impressive 19, matching Lionel Messi’s record for the club in a single European campaign.
Raphinha remarked, “I love playing with top-level players. We know each other really well on the pitch and that is important. We’re achieving spectacular numbers and we hope we keep going like this.”
Setting the Stage for the Second Leg
Barcelona’s dominant performance this season is showcased by their scoring prowess; they have now netted four or more goals in 21 of 48 matches played. Lewandowski’s brace brings his season total to 40, while Yamal has scored 14 times this year.
The team’s commanding win puts them in a favorable position for the upcoming second leg in Germany, where they are poised to secure a spot in the semifinals for the first time since 2019. However, coach Hansi Flick emphasized the importance of maintaining focus heading into the return fixture, noting, “It’s still not won. You never know what can happen in football. It can be a crazy sport.”
Flick added, “We have to play like we played today, do what we know. But first, we turn our attention to Leganés on Saturday. Then we will speak about Dortmund.” With an ongoing lead in LaLiga, Barça’s quest for titles is on solid ground.
Dortmund’s Missed Opportunities
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Borussia Dortmund had several opportunities to score, with Serhou Guirassy missing multiple chances before halftime and Wojciech Szczęsny making crucial saves late in the match. Coach Niko Kovač acknowledged the shortcomings of his team, saying, “We were deserved losers today. At this level, we made too many errors which Barça took advantage of with their quality.”
Looking ahead to the next match, Kovač remarked, “It’s going to be really difficult in the second leg, as you know. I am always optimistic, but I am also realistic. It’s a heavy loss. Our chances of getting through are small.”
Barcelona’s triumph not only serves as a critical step in their Champions League campaign but also illustrates the depth of talent and coordination within their squad as they pursue further success on multiple fronts this season.