The headline clash of Matchday 6 in the Champions League pits fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund against third-placed Barcelona at the Westfalenstadion on Thursday.
With both teams tied on 12 points from their first five matches, they are well-positioned to secure direct qualification to the last 16 by finishing in the top eight.
Borussia Dortmund have no reason to fear as they host Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, featuring former BVB striker Robert Lewandowski, at Signal Iduna Park in the UEFA Champions League on Thursday at 1:30 am.
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Dortmund vs Barcelona: Match Preview
Champions League runners-up last season, Borussia Dortmund are once again excelling in Europe, collecting 12 points from a possible 15 in the revamped league phase. This matches Barcelona’s tally and is surpassed only by Inter Milan (13) and Liverpool (15) ahead of the calendar year’s final round of fixtures. Dortmund are well-positioned to secure a direct place in the last 16 as one of the eight clubs bypassing the play-offs, with two more fixtures scheduled for January.
While not as consistent domestically, Nuri Şahin’s side recently earned a draw against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. Jamie Gittens, who scored in Der Klassiker, continued his impressive form with a goal in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The young English winger is enjoying a breakout season, tallying nine goals—including four in the Champions League—and four assists in his first 20 appearances.
Borussia Dortmund have made their strongest start to a Champions League campaign since the 2016/17 season, matching their record of four wins in five games. The club’s best group stage performance remains their 1997/98 campaign, where they secured five victories from six matches as defending champions.
Under Nuri Şahin, Dortmund have netted 16 goals in their first five Champions League outings this season. Only Thomas Tuchel (18) and Hansi Flick (19) have managed more goals in their first five games at the helm in the competition. Serhou Guirassy has been pivotal, contributing six goal involvements, equaling the record for a Dortmund player in their first five Champions League appearances—a feat previously achieved by Erling Haaland and Ousmane Dembélé.
As Dortmund seek their first-ever win against Barcelona (D2, L2), they’ll be mindful of their history with former striker Robert Lewandowski. The Polish forward scored 103 goals in 187 appearances for BVB before becoming their nemesis at Bayern, netting 27 goals in 26 matches against his former club.
Summer recruits Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier have solidified a flourishing front three, contributing to Dortmund’s 13-match unbeaten streak at home across all competitions. Midfielder Felix Nmecha has also caught the eye, displacing Emre Can at the core of the team. Can, however, might be needed in central defense, as Niklas Süle is doubtful for Wednesday’s clash due to an ankle injury, with Waldemar Anton also unavailable. On a positive note, forward Karim Adeyemi is nearing a return from injury, providing a potential boost to the squad.
Barcelona, with their array of ex-Bundesliga talents, require little introduction. Hansi Flick, who guided Bayern Munich to a historic sextuple in 2020, now has the Catalans sitting atop La Liga, driven in part by the scoring prowess of Robert Lewandowski. The evergreen Polish striker has netted 23 goals across all competitions this season, maintaining a streak of double-digit scoring that began in his second campaign with Dortmund back in 2011/12.
Dani Olmo has also begun replicating the performances that made him a standout during his five years at RB Leipzig, overcoming an injury-plagued return to his native Spain. Despite some standout moments—such as a 4-1 win over Bayern on Matchday 3—Barcelona have shown vulnerability recently, with just one win from their last five league games, including two defeats.
Saturday’s 2-2 draw with mid-table Real Betis, in which they twice squandered the lead, offers Dortmund additional motivation as they aim to outmaneuver one of their closest rivals for knockout qualification. The result also highlights an opportunity for Dortmund to strengthen their standing as Germany’s best-performing team in the 2024/25 Champions League campaign.
Hansi Flick, now leading Barcelona, famously won the 2019/20 Champions League with Bayern as part of a record-equalling sextuple, a feat previously accomplished only by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2009.
Dortmund vs Barcelona: Head-to-head
Played: 4
Dortmund Wins: 0
Draws: 2
Barcelona Wins: 2
In the four encounters between Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona, the German side has never managed to defeat the Spanish giants.
This includes their meeting in the 1997-98 UEFA Super Cup, where Dortmund entered as Champions League holders, facing Barcelona, the UEFA Cup winners. Held in mid-season over two legs, the first match saw Dortmund suffer a 2-0 defeat at the Nou Camp, with goals from Luis Enrique and a Rivaldo penalty.
Heading into the second leg, Dortmund still had hope, but an early goal from Giovanni at the Westfalenstadion put the tie beyond their reach. Jorg Heinrich’s late consolation goal meant little as Barcelona won 3-1 on aggregate to claim the trophy.
The two clubs wouldn’t meet again for over two decades, until they were drawn in the same Champions League group in 2019. Their first encounter came on Matchday 1, followed by a clash on Matchday 5. In the first fixture, a lackluster Barcelona side under Ernesto Valverde managed just one shot on target and was fortunate to escape with a 0-0 draw after Marco Reus missed a second-half penalty.
However, in the return fixture, Barcelona were much more dominant, defeating Dortmund 3-1 with goals from their attacking trio—Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, and Antoine Griezmann—while Jadon Sancho scored a late consolation for the hosts.
The result had little impact on the group’s outcome, as both Barcelona and Dortmund progressed ahead of Inter Milan, but Barcelona’s Champions League campaign ended in disgrace with an 8-2 thrashing by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
Dortmund vs Barcelona: Team News
Dortmund – Team News
Dortmund are grappling with several injuries, as Niklas Süle has been ruled out for “a few months,” joining fellow defender Waldemar Anton and midfielder Julian Brandt on the sidelines. Forwards Maximilian Beier and Karim Adeyemi are also doubtful for the match.
Manager Nuri Şahin is likely to move captain Emre Can, typically a midfielder, into defense alongside Nico Schlotterbeck for the clash with Barcelona. A final decision on Adeyemi will be made closer to kick-off after his two-month absence.
Dortmund – Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: Kobel
- Defenders: Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini
- Midfielders: Sabitzer, Nmecha, Gross
- Forwards: Malen, Guirassy, Gittens
Barcelona – Team News
Barcelona welcome back the talented defender Ronald Araujo to their squad, with no new injury concerns. However, Andreas Christensen, Ansu Fati, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Marc Bernal remain sidelined.
Inaki Peña is expected to start in goal ahead of Wojciech Szczesny.
Ferran Torres has been pushing for a Champions League start after scoring in his last two appearances against Mallorca and Real Betis. However, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal are likely to keep their spots in the forward line alongside central striker Robert Lewandowski.
Barcelona – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Inaki Pena
- Defenders: Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde
- Midfielders: Pedri, Casado, Olmo
- Forwards: Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski
Dortmund vs Barcelona: Match Prediction
While Borussia Dortmund has shown inconsistency in the Bundesliga, they have been impressive in the UEFA Champions League, with the exception of their loss to Real Madrid. The team has been prolific in front of goal in Europe, though they now face a Barcelona side with a similar attacking mindset.
Hansi Flick boasts a perfect record against Borussia Dortmund, having won all five of their previous encounters. Although overcoming the home side will be challenging, Barcelona should possess enough quality to secure a narrow win. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 3-2 victory for Flick and his team.
Prediction: Dortmund 2-3 Barcelona
When and Where to Watch Dortmund vs Barcelona? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 match between Dortmund and Barcelona will take place at Signal Iduna Park Stadium in Dortmund, Germany. The match is set for December 12 at 1:30 am IST. It will be broadcast live on the Sony TEN Network and can be streamed online via Sony LIV.
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FAQs
What is Borussia Dortmund’s current form in the Champions League?
Dortmund has been strong in the Champions League, securing 12 points from their first five matches, with only one loss against Real Madrid.
Who are Dortmund’s key absentees for the Barcelona match?
Dortmund will be without Niklas Süle, Waldemar Anton, Julian Brandt, Maximilian Beier, and Karim Adeyemi, with Emre Can likely moving into defense.
What is Barcelona’s injury situation ahead of the match?
Barcelona will be without Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, and Ansu Fati. Ronald Araujo and Ferran Torres are back from injury.
Who will start in goal for Barcelona?
Inaki Peña is set to start in goal for Barcelona, continuing to be preferred over Wojciech Szczesny.
How has Hansi Flick performed against Borussia Dortmund?
Hansi Flick has a perfect record against Borussia Dortmund, having won all five of their previous encounters.
