Barcelona Dominates Dortmund in Champions League Quarterfinal: 4-0 Victory

BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona defeated Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on April 9, 2025, establishing a strong chance of reaching the semifinals for the first time since 2019.

In front of an electrifying home crowd, Robert Lewandowski netted two goals, while Raphinha added a goal and an assist. Lamine Yamal also contributed to the scoreline, leaving the German side facing a daunting challenge in the second leg next Tuesday in Dortmund.

Dortmund, last year’s runners-up, needed a strong comeback to overturn the four-goal deficit but struggled against Barcelona’s dynamic attack. “We played very well, but we can’t be thinking about the semifinals yet,” Lewandowski cautioned. “We still have the return leg to play.”

Raphinha opened the scoring in the 25th minute, extending his Champions League-leading tally to 12 goals this season. He found the net after a setup from Pau Cubarsí, pushing the Catalan club into the lead after a VAR review confirmed the goal.

Lewandowski, who scored his 11th Champions League goal of the season, followed up shortly after halftime with his first of the night, benefiting from Raphinha’s assist. He later sealed his brace in the 66th minute with a powerful strike that left Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel with no chance.

Yamal closed the scoring with a goal in the 77th minute, highlighting Barcelona’s offensive dominance throughout the match. Lewandowski’s achievement was particularly remarkable, as he became the first player to score 14 Champions League goals after the age of 35, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous mark.

Dortmund had entered the match aware of the difficult task at hand following their heavy defeat. Serhou Guirassy was their standout player, scoring 12 goals in the Champions League this season, but they were unable to translate their attacking chances into goals in this crucial matchup.

“We know that we have a steep hill to climb now,” Dortmund coach Niko Kovač said after the match. “But we have a glimmer of hope because otherwise, this would be impossible.”

The second leg promises to be a true test of character for the Black-Yellows, who will rely heavily on their home crowd to rally them against Barcelona’s formidable lead.

Raphinha’s standout performance indicates he will be a crucial player for Barcelona in the return leg. Meanwhile, Dortmund must regroup and make tactical adjustments if they hope to overcome the daunting challenge and keep their Champions League dream alive.

In another quarterfinal match on the same night, Paris Saint-Germain overcame Aston Villa 3-1, showcasing their attacking prowess and setting up an electrifying semifinals scenario in the Champions League.