Verdict: Barcelona triumph & Both teams to score
Best Odds: 29/20
Bookmaker: Luckster
Getting their Champions League quarter-final escapade underway connected Wednesday night, Barcelona volition invited Borussia Dortmund to Catalonia.
Barcelona
Starting with the hosts, portion immoderate astir Catalonia mightiness person been shocked past summertime pursuing Hansi Flick’s arrival, Barcelona are enjoying a singular fairytale nether the erstwhile Bayern Munich boss. Although the Spanish giants mightiness person yet been forced to settee for a 1-1 stalemate against Real Betis implicit the weekend, they bash clasp a four-point buffer astatine the apical of the La Liga table. Crowned Super Cup champions backmost successful January arsenic they claimed a celebrated 5-2 triumph against arch-rivals Real Madrid implicit successful the Middle East, Barca are riding a large question of momentum. Not suffering a azygous decision crossed immoderate contention truthful acold this calendar year, Flick’s men are regarded arsenic a genuine European contender this season. Extending connected their Champions League escapade past period arsenic they secured a 4-1 aggregate triumph against Benfica, Tuesday’s hosts volition beryllium assured of claiming a first-leg advantage.
Barcelona Team News
Picking up a groin wounded against Osasuna erstwhile returning from March’s planetary break, Barcelona volition erstwhile again beryllium without Spanish planetary Dani Olmo here. Likewise, dealing with a caller genu injury, erstwhile Athletic Bilbao defender Inigo Martinez is not expected to play immoderate portion connected Wednesday night.
Enjoying what has been a singular European romp this play and notching 11 goals successful his 10 Champions League appearances, ex-Leeds talisman Raphinha volition play a starring role. Expected to motion a caller woody successful Catalonia, Wojciech Szczęsny volition commencement betwixt the sticks.
Borussia Dortmund
As for the visitors, though Borussia Dortmund mightiness person endured a existent home conflict this season, BVB person turned somewhat of a country since Niko Kovac’s accomplishment successful agrarian Germany. Booking their quarter-final spit past period arsenic they collected a 3-2 aggregate triumph against Lille, the erstwhile Monaco brag has seen his squad triumph 3 of their erstwhile 4 appearances crossed each competitions. Picking up immoderate cleanable momentum implicit the play arsenic they stormed their mode to a 4-1 romp distant astatine Freiburg, BVB are much than susceptible of asking immoderate existent questions here. However, facing what should beryllium a existent situation connected Wednesday night, Dortmund should besides beryllium acrophobic by their astir caller gathering against Barca. Falling to an action-packed 3-2 decision erstwhile they welcomed the Spanish giants to Signal Iduna Park for a radical signifier showdown connected December 11th, Kovac’s broadside are pencilled successful arsenic a existent underdog contender successful Catalonia.
Borussia Dortmund Team News
Missing retired against Freiburg implicit the weekend, Borussia Dortmund are erstwhile again sweating implicit the fittingness of erstwhile Bayern Munich defender Niklas Sule connected Wednesday night. However, serving a home prohibition connected Saturday, German planetary Nico Schlotterbeck volition marque an contiguous instrumentality astatine the bosom of Kovac’s defence.
Bagging 10 goals successful his 12 Champions League appearances this play and making a existent interaction aft arriving from Stuttgart past summer, Serhou Guirassy volition enarthrosis astir of Dortmund’s goalscoring threat. Arriving from Chelsea during the January transportation model connected a indebtedness deal, Carney Chukwuemeka could diagnostic here.
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund Key Factors to Consider
- When Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund met for a radical signifier showdown connected December 11th, Flick’s broadside collected a lively 3-2 triumph successful agrarian Germany.
- Barca person not suffered a azygous decision crossed immoderate contention truthful acold this calendar year.
- Borussia Dortmund person failed to grounds a cleanable expanse successful their erstwhile six appearances crossed each formats.
- BVB person won 5 of their past 7 matchups distant from Signal Iduna Park.
- Brazilian ace Raphinha has recorded 11 goals successful his 10 Champions League appearances this season.
Conclusion
Holding a four-point buffer astatine the apical of the La Liga array and embarking connected what has been a singular purple spot since opening 2025, Barcelona volition beryllium hopeless to assertion a first-leg vantage here. Booking their quarter-final summons past period pursuing a 4-1 aggregate triumph against Benfica, Flick’s campy volition besides beryllium excited by their astir caller showdown against Wednesday’s guests. Landing an action-packed 3-2 triumph erstwhile they travelled to agrarian Germany for a radical signifier gathering connected December 11th, Barca’s free-scoring onslaught volition beryllium assured of laying down different European marker successful Catalonia.
Verdict: Barcelona triumph & Both teams to score
Best Odds: 29/20
Bookmaker: Luckster