Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund: Match Insights, Predictions, and Team News

Champions League Barcelona, the favourites for the Champions League, are set to host last year’s runners-up, Borussia Dortmund, at Montjuic for the first leg of their quarter-final matchup on Wednesday. Hansi Flick’s team has been in phenomenal form throughout the tournament, showcasing an attacking style of play that has impressed everyone and solidified their status as top contenders.

Both teams have a lot to play for, with a potential semi-final clash against Inter Milan or Bayern Munich awaiting the winner. Barcelona, looking to bury the memories of their semi-final loss to Inter in 2010, will face a motivated Dortmund squad eager to avenge their past struggles against Bayern and aim for consecutive finals.

However, Dortmund faces a steep challenge, especially given Barcelona’s current momentum. The Catalans are on a remarkable unbeaten streak of 22 matches, winning 18 of them. Yet, they were held to a surprising 1-1 draw at home by Real Betis just last weekend, with Gavi’s opener neutralized by Natan’s late equalizer.

For Barcelona, the quadruple is still a possibility, as they have already secured the Spanish Super Cup and made it to the Copa del Rey final by edging out Atletico Madrid with a thrilling 5-4 aggregate win. Ferran Torres was the hero in the second leg at the Metropolitano, scoring the decisive goal after a dramatic 4-4 draw in the first leg. But before they can focus on a potential El Clásico showdown in the Copa del Rey final, the team has both legs of the Champions League quarter-finals to navigate, as well as three manageable La Liga matches against Leganes, Celta Vigo, and Real Mallorca.

The potential for a Clasico final in two different competitions, alongside both teams competing fiercely for the La Liga title, makes this season one of the most exciting in Spanish football history. However, the title race took an unexpected twist recently, with Real Madrid suffering a home loss to Valencia.

Flick’s focus will solely be on his team’s performance as they prepare for the first leg against Dortmund. The two clubs previously faced each other in the league phase at Westfalenstadion, where Ferran once again played a decisive role, scoring twice in a thrilling 3-2 victory, despite BVB equalizing twice through Serhou Guirassy. Barcelona will feel confident about taking a lead back to Germany next week, aiming to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2019.

Historically, Barcelona has a strong record against Dortmund, having never lost in their five previous encounters. Flick himself boasts a flawless record against them, winning all six of his matches during his time with Bayern, including successes in the league phase. Dortmund will also be wary of their struggles in Spain, having won only three of their 20 visits, including a tough 5-2 defeat at Real Madrid earlier in the season, despite initially leading 2-0 at the Bernabeu. Favourites Barcelona welcome last year’s finalists Borussia Dortmund to Montjuic in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday.
Hansi Flick’s side has been steamrolling their way through this competition so far, playing undoubtedly the most eye-catching attacking football, justifying their position at the top of the markets.
With a place against Inter Milan or Bayern Munich on the line, for both of these sides, there is added incentive to reach the last four.
Barcelona will still want to exercise the demons of their semi-final defeat to Inter in 2010, while Dortmund could make up for years of torture at the hands of Bayern as they seek to reach back-to-back finals.
The task for the German side looks huge, though, given the scintillating form Barcelona are currently in, having gone unbeaten in 22 games, winning 18, but they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Real Betis over the weekend, with Natan cancelling out Gavi’s early opener.
A quadruple remains in sight, though for Barcelona, who have already won the Spanish Super Cup, and advanced to the Copa del Rey final courtesy of their 5-4 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid last midweek.
Ferran Torres got the only goal in the second leg at the Metropolitano, after an extraordinary 4-4 draw in the first meeting, but before an El Clasico final in that competition, Barca have both legs of this Champions League quarter-final to play, as well as three winnable La Liga fixtures against Leganes, Celta Vigo and Real Mallorca.
he fact that a Clasico final could occur in two separate competitions, while the two are still battling for the title, suggests this could be one of the finest seasons of all time in Spanish football, but the race for the La Liga crown took a huge turn at the weekend with Los Blancos losing to Valencia at home.
Flick will only be focused on his own team’s exploits, though, and attention will shift to this first leg with Dortmund, with the two now meeting in Spain after facing off at the Westfalenstadion during the league phase.
Ferran was the hero again for Barca, netting two late goals in a 3-2 victory after Serhou Guirassy had equalised twice for BVB, and they will feel confident of taking a lead back to Germany next week, with the view of reaching a first semi since 2019.
Barca have never lost in their five previous meetings with Dortmund, and manager Flick has a perfect 100% record against them, with six wins from six across his time with Bayern, and including the league phase success.
The odds are even further stacked against Dortmund when you consider they have won on just three of their 20 trips to Spain, with a 5-2 defeat at Real Madrid earlier this season adding to that poor record, even though they did briefly lead 2-0 at the Bernabeu.