Robert Lewandowski hit a brace to assist a devastating Barcelona rout Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in a one-sided Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday.
Hansi Flick’s Barca are a step away from reaching the semifinals for the primary time since 2019 and prolonged their unbeaten run to 23 matches.
The five-time winners took the lead in opposition to final yr’s runners-up by way of red-hot winger Raphinha earlier than Lewandowski reached 40 objectives for the season together with his double.
Didn’t come to play.
Got here to beat. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GbypQzYEcQ— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 9, 2025
Teenager Lamine Yamal was an unstoppable drive all through and deftly prodded residence Barcelona’s fourth as Dortmund collapsed.
Barca, who final lifted the trophy in 2015 are aiming to seal a closing 4 conflict in opposition to Inter Milan or Bayern Munich after they go to Germany subsequent Tuesday.
Flick chosen his typical facet, with just one resolution to make – he opted for Fermin Lopez over Gavi in attacking midfield to assist the dynamic ahead trio.
LaLiga leaders Barcelona seized management from the beginning, with Gregor Kobel saving effectively from Yamal and Lewandowski.
Spain starlet Yamal, 17, fired throughout the face of objective after which over as he ran riot, Dortmund unable to gradual him down.
Barcelona took the lead after Karim Adeyemi needlessly gave away a free-kick in a harmful space, pulling Jules Kounde again by his dreadlocks whereas attempting to burst ahead on the counter.
Fermin Lopez whipped it to the again submit, with Inigo Martinez nodding the ball in direction of Pau Cubarsi, who turned it in direction of objective.
The younger defender’s effort beat Kobel and was heading over the road earlier than the event’s high scorer Raphinha slid in to ensure, claiming his twelfth objective.
The Brazilian winger confronted a nervous wait whereas VAR labored to verify his Twenty fifth-minute strike was onside.
Yamal and Raphinha zipped ahead in quest of a second however couldn’t get the ultimate ball proper, earlier than Serhou Guirassy spurned an enormous probability for the guests to degree.
With Dortmund’s first slick attacking transfer of the sport, the ahead, who has 10 objectives within the competitors, was performed in however snatched badly at a bouncing ball with simply Wojciech Szczesny to beat.
Guirassy narrowly failed to achieve an Adeyemi cross earlier than halftime after which smashed into the side-netting as Niko Kovac’s facet confirmed flashes of their potential.
WHIRLWIND
Unsurprisingly Dortmund got here to remorse Guirassy’s misses, with Lewandowski netting his tenth of the event early within the second half.
Yamal clipped a cross to Raphinha, who looped a header over to Lewandowski on the far submit to nod residence from just about beneath the crossbar three minutes after the interval.
Lopez struck the submit and lashed inches over as Barcelona looked for a 3rd to kill the tie off.
It arrived after 66 minutes, with Lopez teeing up Lewandowski to drill residence on the close to submit.
🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/lFI1AUzY7c
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 9, 2025
This was the previous Dortmund striker’s twenty ninth objective in 28 matches in opposition to his outdated membership.
Yamal, who had toyed with Dortmund’s defence all night time, deservedly bought on the scoresheet because the guests left themselves vast open and Raphinha despatched the teenager by way of on objective.
Assertion made! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/PbWlQPb0Zo
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 9, 2025
The one fear for Barca was Yamal asking to get replaced within the closing phases, though he was smiling as he was afforded an ovation.
Flick’s facet are aiming for a possible quadruple this season and on this proof, they are going to take some stopping.
