Barcelona Dominates Dortmund in Champions League Quarterfinal First Leg

BARCELONA, Spain — FC Barcelona took a significant step toward the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League with a commanding 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie on Tuesday. The match showcased Barcelona’s attacking prowess, leaving them in a strong position for the second leg next week.

The Spanish giants effectively dismantled Dortmund at Montjuic, where Raphinha opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Robert Lewandowski followed suit with goals in the 48th and 66th minutes, while 17-year-old Lamine Yamal capped off the scoring in the 77th minute, sealing the emphatic win.

Barcelona’s dominance was evident throughout the match as they consistently pressured the Dortmund defense, leading to several missed opportunities for the visitors. Lewandowski expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “We played with intensity and purpose. It’s a great feeling to contribute to the team’s success, especially in a crucial match like this one.”

Despite a few opportunities in the first half, Dortmund could not find the back of the net, partially due to Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny’s crucial saves. According to UEFA statistics, Barcelona achieved an impressive xG of 3.69 compared to Dortmund’s 1.45, underscoring the Spaniards’ offensive dominance.

In another quarterfinal matchup, Paris Saint-Germain narrowly defeated Aston Villa 3-1 at home, creating a complex scenario for the second leg. Villa managed to score first through Morgan Rogers but conceded to Nuno Mendes’ stunning stop-time goal, dampening their hopes of a favorable outcome for their return leg.

Raphinha’s performance continues to impress, notching 12 goals and seven assists in just 11 Champions League matches this season. His productivity positions him alongside legends like Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, as highlighted by UEFA data.

Lewandowski made history as well, becoming the first player to achieve 10 goals in a single Champions League season for three separate clubs: Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and now Barcelona. His remarkable scoring ability against his former team remains a testament to his quality as a forward.

The focus now shifts to the second leg of the quarterfinals, as Dortmund prepares to host Barcelona at Signal Iduna Park, hoping to overturn the 4-0 deficit. Coach Edin Terzić said, “We need to regroup and find a way to fight back. This is not over yet, and we have our supporters to help us on our home turf.”

The Champions League bid continues to heat up as the top clubs compete for the prestigious title, with the semifinals awaiting the four winners from these quarterfinal clashes.