FC Barcelona Faces Borussia Dortmund in Champions League Quarterfinals

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — FC Barcelona will take on Borussia Dortmund in a highly anticipated matchup in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League on April 9, 2025. The match is expected to draw attention from fans across Europe, as both teams look to secure a spot in the semifinals.

Barcelona, led by stars including Robert Lewandowski and Wojciech Szczęsny, enters the game as the favorite following a solid performance in league play, finishing second in their domestic competition. Dortmund, however, narrowly missed direct qualification to the next round of the Champions League, finishing 10th in their league.

The teams met previously in November, where Barcelona edged out a thrilling 3-2 victory. This result showcased Dortmund’s ability to compete with the La Liga giants and raised expectations for this clash at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

“The fans are excited about Szczęsny. He has quickly earned their love, providing security to the team,” said Sergi Capdevila, a journalist with the Catalan daily Sport, in an interview with TVP Sport. Meanwhile, Sebastian Parfjanowicz from Przegląd Sportowy Onet commented on Lewandowski, saying, “In recent matches, he seems a bit detached from Barcelona’s offensive style.”

As the match unfolds, fans will see both teams’ lineups, with Barcelona sticking to their core players, including Lewandowski, who currently leads the league in goals.

The match is set to kick off at 21:00 CET, with referee Espen Eskås officiating the game. It will be broadcast live on CANAL+ Extra 1 and available for streaming on CANAL+online. The winner of this quarterfinal will face the victor in the matchup between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.

Barcelona has never lost to Dortmund in five previous encounters, boasting three wins and two draws. Most recently, the Catalans eliminated Benfica in the Round of 16, whereas Dortmund overcame Lille. As anticipation builds for the match, both clubs hope to capitalize on their strengths to advance further in the prestigious tournament.