UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund – Preview, Prediction and Where to Watch the Match Live?

All eyes turn to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys as we gear up for a thrilling Champions League showdown—here’s our bold Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund preview and prediction!

Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund: Preview

Barcelona head into their quarter-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund as the new frontrunners for this season’s UEFA Champions League crown—and the hype is real.

Hansi Flick’s side blazed their way into the last eight with a commanding 4-1 aggregate triumph over Benfica, etching their name in history as just the third club—alongside Real Madrid and Bayern Munich—to reach 20 or more Champions League quarter-finals.

After grinding out a 1-0 win in the first leg away, it was wonderkid Lamine Yamal who lit up the return fixture, becoming the youngest player ever to score and assist in a Champions League match at just 17 years and 241 days.

Barça’s attacking firepower has been off the charts this campaign, netting 32 goals—their highest tally in a single Champions League season since 2011-12 (35). The only time they’ve scored more? The iconic 1999-00 season, when they struck a record 45 times.

Credit where it’s due—Flick has injected fresh life into Barcelona’s European campaign. Across 28 Champions League games with Bayern and Barça, his teams have racked up a jaw-dropping 89 goals, averaging 3.2 goals per match—the best ratio in competition history for any manager who’s taken charge of at least one game.

Leading the charge in the final third has been Raphinha, who’s been nothing short of sensational. With 11 goals and 5 assists in just 10 Champions League appearances this season, only Lionel Messi (19 goal involvements in 2011-12) has bettered that tally in a single campaign for the club.

Barcelona’s goal-scoring juggernaut hasn’t been confined to just the Champions League—they’ve been tearing it up domestically too. With 141 goals across all competitions, no team in Europe’s top five leagues has found the net more.

That said, Flick’s men head into Wednesday’s showdown on a slightly sour note after a frustrating 1-1 draw against Real Betis in La Liga. Despite maintaining a four-point cushion over second-placed Real Madrid, they missed a golden opportunity to widen the gap, especially after Los Blancos stumbled to a home defeat against Valencia earlier on Saturday.

Awaiting them is a Dortmund side that’s starting to gather serious momentum under Niko Kovac. The German outfit closed the weekend with a commanding 4-1 win over Freiburg, narrowing the gap to just five points from a Champions League qualification spot in the Bundesliga.

And let’s not forget—Kovac remains unbeaten in the Champions League since stepping in for Nuri Sahin, who was dismissed in January. The Black and Yellows are beginning to show real bite at just the right time.

Dortmund punched their ticket to the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 3-2 aggregate win over Lille, marking their ninth appearance in the Champions League last eight—and notably, their first time reaching this stage in back-to-back seasons since 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Leading the charge has been Serhou Guirassy, who sits joint-second in the tournament’s scoring charts with 10 goals, just one behind Raphinha. His total of 14 goal involvements (10 goals, 4 assists) not only highlights his impact but also ties him with Mohamed Salah for the most by an African player in a single Champions League campaign.

These two sides have already crossed paths earlier this season during the league phase, with Barcelona edging a 3-2 thriller at Signal Iduna Park. That night belonged to Ferran Torres, whose second-half double off the bench sealed the win. In doing so, he became just the fourth substitute ever to score two or more goals in a Champions League game for Barça—joining the likes of Lionel Messi (2008), Cristian Tello (2012), and Ivan Rakitic (2015) in that exclusive club.

Flick’s side not only took all three points from their league phase encounter with Dortmund but also shattered a long-standing streak—handing the German outfit their first home defeat in the Champions League since November 2021, when they lost 3-1 to Ajax. That result brought an end to Dortmund’s impressive unbeaten run on home turf in the competition.

On the team news front, Dortmund suffered a major setback with the confirmation that key centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck will miss the rest of the season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. In response, Kovac switched things up over the weekend, deploying a back three of Emre Can, Waldemar Anton, and Ramy Bensebaini—an approach he’s likely to stick with against Barcelona.

As for the Catalan giants, they’ll be without Dani Olmo, who picked up an adductor injury shortly after netting against Osasuna in late March. However, there’s a boost in defence, with Iñigo Martínez expected to return to the squad after missing the 1-1 draw with Betis.

Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund: Head-to-head

Barcelona remain unbeaten in all five of their previous meetings with Borussia Dortmund in European competition, recording three wins and two draws—including December’s thrilling group-stage triumph. The only clubs they’ve faced more often without suffering defeat are Lyon (8 matches), Napoli (6), and Werder Bremen (6).

Hansi Flick, meanwhile, seems to have Dortmund’s number. Between his time at Bayern Munich and Barcelona, he boasts a perfect six wins from six against BVB—his best 100% record against any side. His teams have racked up 18 goals in those six matches, averaging three per game and scoring at least three in all but one.

Dortmund, on the other hand, have yet to taste victory against the Catalan club. Their five-match winless run (two draws, three losses) is their joint-third longest against any European opponent—matched only by six-game streaks against Real Madrid and Rangers. Historically, they’ve also struggled on Spanish soil, with just three wins from 20 European away games in Spain (five draws, 12 defeats). In knockout ties, that record worsens—only one win in ten matches, a 3-2 victory over Sevilla in the 2021 round of 16.

Still, there’s a silver lining for BVB fans. The German side have lost just once in their last eight Champions League knockout matches (five wins, two draws), with that lone defeat coming in the final against Real Madrid last season. Impressively, they’ve also won their last three away games in the knockout rounds—more than they managed in their previous 17 combined.

Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund: Team News and Predicted Lineup

Barcelona – Team News

Hansi Flick is set to have Iñigo Martínez back at his disposal for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund. The Spanish defender sat out the 1-1 draw against Real Betis due to a minor issue, but Flick has confirmed he’ll be fit and ready to feature.

Dani Olmo remains sidelined with an adductor injury, leaving a gap in midfield. Up front, Flick faces a selection headache. Raphinha is in line for a return after being benched at the weekend, and could be preferred over the in-form Ferran Torres. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Robert Lewandowski as he prepares to lead the line against his former side.

Barcelona – Predicted Lineup

• Goalkeper – Szczesny
• Defenders – Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Balde
• Midfielders – De Jong, Pedri, Gavi
• Forwards – Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski

Borussia Dortmund – Team News

Dortmund have been hit with a double setback ahead of the trip to Barcelona, with both Marcel Sabitzer and Nico Schlotterbeck ruled out through injury. Adding to their woes, Pascal Gross will miss the tie due to suspension.

There is a boost, though, as Yan Couto returns to the squad and is available for selection. However, Niklas Süle remains a doubt after picking up a knock, leaving Niko Kovac with a few defensive dilemmas ahead of the first leg.

Borussia Dortmund – Predicted Lineup

• Goalkeper – Kobel
• Defenders – Can, Anton, Bensebaini,
• Midfielders – Ozcan, Brandt, Adeyemi, Ryerson, Svensson
• Forwards – Adeyemi, Guirassy

Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund: Prediction

Barcelona come into the tie with momentum, attacking firepower, and a formidable home record in Europe, while Dortmund are grappling with key injuries and suspensions. With Flick’s impeccable record against BVB and Barça’s blistering form in the Champions League—especially from Raphinha and Yamal—they’ll be tough to stop. Despite Dortmund’s recent away success in the knockout rounds, the absence of Sabitzer and Schlotterbeck could prove costly.

Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Borussia Dortmund

When and Where to Watch Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund Match? Broadcast and Streaming Details

The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-finals first leg between Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund will take place at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Catalonia, Spain. The match is set for April 10 at 12:30 am IST. It will be broadcast live on the Sony Network and can be streamed online via Sony LIV.

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