Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund are set to light up the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Wednesday night in a high-stakes Champions League quarter-final — and it’s all to play for.
The Catalans are riding high, unbeaten in all competitions since their bruising clash with Atletico Madrid last year. Since then, they’ve grown into a formidable force, sweeping past Benfica 4-1 on aggregate in the last round with the swagger of a side chasing European glory.
History leans their way too — two wins from the last three meetings with Dortmund offer a psychological edge. And with the home crowd roaring them on, Barça will be out for blood. But don’t count Dortmund out. They survived a cagey battle with Lille in the last round, edging through 3-2.
Their form may be stuttering, but on their day, the Black and Yellow can hurt anyone — especially with their explosive attack and no-fear football. This won’t be a chess match. It’ll be a shootout. Barcelona may be favourites, but one slip, one spark from Dortmund, and this tie could catch fire.
Barcelona are marching into Wednesday night’s Champions League quarter-final with a fire in their veins and the scent of silverware in the air. Hansi Flick’s relentless, high-octane side may not have fully capitalised on Real Madrid’s slip-up at the weekend, but their 1-1 draw with a red-hot Real Betis was enough to stretch their lead at the La Liga summit to four points — and keep the momentum firmly on their side.
Fresh off a thrilling 5-4 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semis, Barça look like a team built for knockout football. Ruthless, fearless, and unbeaten in their last 22 games across all competitions, this is a side dripping with belief — and goals.
Already holding a win over Dortmund earlier this season, Flick’s men are heavy favourites heading into the first leg. And with a red-hot front three of Raphinha, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, and the ever-lethal Robert Lewandowski — who knows Dortmund better than anyone — the Blaugrana attack looks poised to explode.
Injuries may have robbed them of Dani Olmo, Ter Stegen, and a few promising youngsters, but in stepped veteran Wojciech Szczesny to keep things calm at the back, while Inigo Martinez could make a timely return to bolster the defence.
BARCELONA predicted lineup vs DORTMUND: Szczesny (GK); Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Ferran Torres, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Borussia Dortmund are entering the lion’s den in Barcelona with something to prove and everything to gain. After parting ways with Nuri Sahin in January, the club turned to Niko Kovac to steady the ship — and while the Bundesliga form remains patchy at best, the Champions League offers a golden opportunity for redemption.
Fresh from back-to-back wins over Mainz and Freiburg, Dortmund have shown signs of life since the international break. But they still sit outside the top seven in Germany, and with no clean sheet in their last six outings, heading into a clash against one of Europe’s most lethal attacking units is a daunting task.
Add to that a poor recent record against Barcelona — no wins in their last three meetings — and the odds are steep. Especially when Barça have scored first in seven of their last eight games and are firing on all cylinders.
Marcel Sabitzer will be the only confirmed absentee due to a knee issue, while Niklas Sule is expected to shake off a knock in time to bolster the backline. Nico Schlotterbeck and Yan Couto return from suspension, giving Kovac a nearly full-strength squad to work with.
The big call will be up top, where goal machine Serhou Guirassy — rested at the weekend — is primed to lead the line. Dortmund will need him at his sharpest if they’re to silence the Olympic Stadium and keep their European dream alive.
DORTMUND predicted lineup vs BARCELONA: Kobel (GK); Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Svensson; Can, Ozcan, Brandt; Adeyemi, Guirassy, Beier.
Barcelona may have hit a slight bump in the road after a relentless post-international break schedule — four matches in just over a week — but with the lights of the Champions League shining bright and a packed Olympic Stadium behind them, expect the Catalans to snap right back into high gear.
Hansi Flick’s men have been a juggernaut at home, and with Dortmund rolling into town, this is no time for mercy. The German side, under Niko Kovac, might carry a touch of European grit and tactical nous, but let’s be honest — they’ve flirted with chaos all season. Inconsistent in the Bundesliga, leaky at the back, and still searching for identity, they’re up against a Barcelona team that smells blood.
Yes, Kovac is clever. Yes, Dortmund have history. But this Barça side is unbeaten in 22 straight matches and look every bit the title contenders they once were. With Lewandowski hungry against his old rivals and Lamine Yamal ready to tear down the wing, a statement first-leg win feels not just likely — it feels inevitable.
Prediction: Barcelona wins.
