Barcelona produced a scintillating attacking display to sweep aside Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Raphinha opened the scoring before teeing up Robert Lewandowski twice, and later delivered a stunning assist for Lamine Yamal, leaving the German side with a mountain to climb in next Tuesday’s return leg at Signal Iduna Park.
As it happened
Barcelona signalled their intent from the start, with early efforts from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha testing Gregor Kobel. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when a set-piece scramble saw Pau Cubarsí’s effort deflect into Raphinha’s path, allowing the Brazilian to poke home from close range.
Dortmund had moments of promise in the first half—most notably through Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi—but lacked the cutting edge to punish Barça’s high line. That profligacy was brutally punished just after the restart.
In the 48th minute, Raphinha—who had been electric throughout—headed a Yamal cross back across goal for Lewandowski to nod home against his former club. The Polish striker made it 3-0 midway through the half, drilling home from a Fermin López cutback after a fluid counterattack.
The pick of the bunch came in the 77th minute. Lewandowski stole possession, fed Raphinha, and the Brazilian floated a sublime through ball for Yamal to control and slot past Kobel. It was a clinical display of transition football from Hansi Flick’s side, who looked dangerous every time they surged forward.
Dortmund thought they had salvaged a consolation late on when Maximilian Beier finished from Giovanni Reyna’s cut-back, but the flag was raised for offside to compound a miserable night for the Bundesliga outfit.
The lineups
BAR: Szczesny; Koundé, Cubarsí, Martínez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, López, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
BVB: Kobel; Ryerson, Can, Anton, Bensebaini; Chukwuemeka, Nmecha; Gittens, Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy.
