Barcelona head to Germany on Tuesday evening with momentum, muscle and reminiscence firmly on their facet, able to slam the Champions League quarter-final door shut on Borussia Dortmund.
After a 4-0 demolition job within the first leg at Montjuïc, La Blaugrana step into Signal Iduna Park needing solely to keep away from a historic collapse.
But this isn’t a crew clinging to the previous – they’re rewriting the current.
Hansi Flick’s red-hot squad has their foot on the accelerator and eyes on a surprising quadruple.
Barcelona’s ruthless trio – Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski – carved Dortmund aside final week.
Lewandowski punished his former membership with a brace, whereas Raphinha and Yamal struck with venom.
Raphinha even matched Lionel Messi’s membership report for many purpose involvements in a single Champions League marketing campaign – 19 and counting.
The stats are staggering.
No crew has ever survived a four-goal first-leg deficit in UCL knockout play – besides Barcelona.
That 2017 remontada in opposition to PSG is famous, however Dortmund replicating it feels far-fetched.
Niko Kovac’s facet is inconsistent, injury-hit and fragile at residence, having received simply three of their final 12 in entrance of the Yellow Wall – a run that features a 3-2 loss to those identical Catalans.
Barcelona, in the meantime, are portray a masterpiece of a season. Saturday’s 1-0 win over Leganes saved them unbeaten in all 24 matches performed in 2025 – their longest such run to begin a calendar 12 months.
They’re high of La Liga, Spanish Super Cup winners, Copa del Rey finalists, and Champions League favorites.
A quadruple isn’t only a dream. It’s a calendar away.
They’ve crushed Dortmund twice this season. They thrashed Bayern 4-1.
They’ve received their final three UCL video games in opposition to German opposition after dropping the earlier 5.
Flick’s fingerprint is evident: management, composure and medical edge. And now, they chase a ninth straight street win – a membership report – having averted defeat in 16 immediately video games since November.
Injuries? Yes, however manageable.
Alejandro Balde’s hamstring knock leaves Gerard Martin to step in at left-back.
Ter Stegen, Marc Bernal and Marc Casado are additionally sidelined, however Fermin Lopez, who assisted Lewandowski final week, is anticipated to begin forward of Gavi once more.
However, Barcelona obtained a well timed increase with Dani Olmo getting back from the minor damage he picked up in opposition to Osasuna.
Dortmund welcomes Pascal Gross again from suspension, however Marcel Sabitzer and Nico Schlotterbeck stay out with knee accidents.
Kovac could abandon his latest three-man again line in favor of a determined 4-2-3-1 as he hopes for objectives, objectives and extra objectives.
But the reality is evident: Barcelona are charging towards the semis with the starvation of a crew that hasn’t received the UCL since 2015 – and the swagger of 1 that is aware of they’re favorites to elevate it once more.
Source: www.dailysabah.com