As we gear up for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg, here’s our Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona preview and prediction. Hansi Flick’s men hold a commanding 4-0 lead from the first leg, but can BVB pull off a legendary comeback?
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Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona: Preview
Borussia Dortmund face a monumental task in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona, trailing by four goals after a crushing defeat in Spain last week. While the odds of a comeback are slim, history has shown that miracles can happen — and ironically, the only such instance involves Barcelona themselves.
Dortmund’s heavy loss marked the 160th occasion a team has suffered a 4+ goal defeat in the first leg of a European Cup/Champions League knockout tie. Of the previous 159 teams, only one has managed to overturn such a deficit — Barcelona’s iconic turnaround against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2016-17 round of 16, where they bounced back from a 4-0 loss to win 6-1 at Camp Nou.
As if the mountain weren’t already steep enough, Dortmund also carry the weight of history — they’ve never beaten Barcelona in a competitive fixture. The two sides have met six times before, and BVB’s failure to win in any of those games means a loss or draw this time would equal their longest European winless run against a single opponent — matching a seven-game streak against Rangers between 1966 and 1999.
Meanwhile, Barcelona come into this clash in imperious attacking form and are now considered favourites to lift the Champions League trophy, according to Opta’s supercomputer. They’re averaging an impressive 3.3 goals per game in the 2024-25 campaign, a mark bettered only by Bayern Munich’s 3.9 in their 2019-20 title-winning season — a side that was, fittingly, coached by current Barça boss Hansi Flick.
Barcelona boast the top two scorers in this season’s UEFA Champions League, with Raphinha netting 12 goals and Robert Lewandowski close behind on 11. The Brazilian winger has been in sensational form, directly contributing to 19 goals in just 11 appearances (12 goals, 7 assists). He’s now on the verge of joining an elite club — only Cristiano Ronaldo (21 in 2013-14, 20 in 2015-16) and Lewandowski himself (20 in 2019-20) have recorded 20+ goal involvements in a single UCL campaign.
Lewandowski, meanwhile, continues to cement his legacy in European football. Earlier this season, he became just the third player to reach 100 Champions League goals and now sits on 105 — trailing only Lionel Messi (129) and Cristiano Ronaldo (140) in the all-time rankings. Although catching them might be a stretch, especially with his 37th birthday approaching before the next campaign, the Polish striker’s output in his 30s has been nothing short of remarkable. Since turning 30, he has scored 60 goals in 59 UCL matches — a tally surpassed only by Ronaldo, who netted 68 times in 74 appearances during his 30s.
Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy remains in close pursuit of Barcelona’s leading scorers in this season’s Champions League, having netted 10 times in 13 appearances. However, his recent form has dipped significantly. Guirassy has gone four consecutive UCL matches without a goal, failing to convert any of his last 10 shots. This marks a sharp decline from earlier in the campaign when he had a striking conversion rate of 40%, scoring 10 goals from just 25 attempts.
Barcelona, in contrast, arrive at this fixture in red-hot form. They are unbeaten in 24 competitive matches since their 2-1 league loss to Atlético Madrid on December 21. This impressive run includes 20 wins and 4 draws, with their most recent triumph coming in La Liga — a narrow victory over Leganes, courtesy of an own goal by Jorge Sáenz. The result helped the Catalan giants extend their lead at the top of the La Liga table to four points over arch-rivals Real Madrid, with just seven matches left in the season.
Dortmund’s domestic campaign paints a different picture. Their 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the weekend’s Der Klassiker leaves them sitting eighth in the Bundesliga standings. Niko Kovač’s men are now a staggering 27 points behind league leaders Bayern and face an uphill battle to secure a Champions League spot for next season.
One bright spark for Dortmund has been the form of Maximilian Beier. The forward opened the scoring at the Allianz Arena and has now registered four goals and two assists in his last six outings. He’s just one strike away from hitting double digits in all competitions this season — a milestone only Guirassy (25) and Jamie Gittens (12) have reached for the club in 2024-25.
Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona: Head-to-Head
The first leg of this tie marked a historic low for Borussia Dortmund, equalling their heaviest-ever defeat in European Cup/Champions League history — matching the 4-0 drubbing they received from Ajax in the 2021-22 group stage.
Barcelona’s emphatic win added to their flawless record against German opposition this season in the Champions League. They’ve now beaten Bayern Munich 4-1 and Borussia Dortmund twice — 3-2 and 4-0. A victory in the return leg would make Barça the first team ever to win twice away to Dortmund in a single European campaign.
Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Borussia Dortmund – Team News
Borussia Dortmund were without Pascal Gross for the first leg due to suspension, but the former Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder is set to return to the starting lineup on Tuesday, ready to take his place in the heart of the midfield, just as he did in the recent Der Klassiker.
However, manager Niko Kovač will still be without knee injury casualties Marcel Sabitzer and Nico Schlotterbeck, with the latter expected to be sidelined for several months. Additionally, Kovač is concerned about Emre Can’s fitness due to a muscular issue.
While Kovač has experimented with a three-man defence in recent weeks, given Can’s injury and the team’s urgent need for goals to have any chance of advancing, he may opt for a more conventional 4-2-3-1 formation on Tuesday.
Borussia Dortmund – Predicted Lineup (3-5-2)
- Goalkeper – Kobel
- Defenders – Can, Anton, Bensebaini,
- Midfielders – Chukwuemeka, Brandt, Gross, Ryerson, Svensson
- Forwards – Beier, Guirassy
Barcelona – Team News
Barcelona’s victory over Leganes at the weekend came at a cost, as left-back Alejandro Balde suffered a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out until the end of the month.
Gerard Martin is set to replace Balde in defence at Signal Iduna Park. Meanwhile, Marc Bernal (knee), Marc-André ter Stegen (knee), and Marc Casado (knee) will all miss the match due to injuries.
Dani Olmo’s adductor issue has improved, allowing him to make the squad, but Fermin Lopez — who assisted Lewandowski’s second goal in the first leg — is expected to retain his spot in the starting lineup ahead of Gavi in the number 10 role. Additionally, a minor ankle concern for Raphinha could open the door for Ferran Torres to feature.
Barcelona – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeper – Szczesny
- Defenders – Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Martin
- Midfielders – De Jong, Pedri, Fermin Lopez
- Forwards – Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski
Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona: Prediction
Dortmund’s approach to Tuesday’s match will be intriguing, given their slim chances of progression and the pressing need to focus on their Bundesliga campaign. However, the Champions League has a way of defying expectations, and until the final whistle, anything remains possible.
Though Dortmund’s hopes for a dramatic comeback are slim, scoring first could ignite some uncertainty. Barcelona, well aware of the unpredictability of a heavy first-leg lead, will know the match isn’t over until it’s truly over.
While we anticipate Dortmund pulling a couple of goals back, Barcelona’s incredible attacking prowess should ultimately see them through to the semi-finals with little difficulty. This version of Barça is stronger than before, and although they don’t need to win the second leg outright, their offensive strength will prove too much for Dortmund to handle. Hansi Flick will likely aim to maintain their unbeaten run in this competition.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Barcelon (aggregate 7-2 for Barcelona)
When and Where to Watch Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona Match? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-finals second leg between Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona will take place at the Signal Iduna in Dortmund, Germany. The match is set for April 16 at 12:30 am IST. It will be broadcast live on the Sony Network and can be streamed online via Sony LIV.
Read More: Jose Mourinho Sparks Controversy with Nose Grab After Turkish Cup Defeat
FAQs
What is Borussia Dortmund’s chance of a comeback against Barcelona?
Dortmund faces a daunting challenge with a 4-0 deficit from the first leg, making a comeback unlikely, but history shows anything can happen in the Champions League.
Who are the top scorers for Barcelona in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League?
Raphinha (12 goals) and Robert Lewandowski (11 goals) are Barcelona’s top scorers in the 2024-25 Champions League season.
What key injuries are impacting Barcelona ahead of the second leg?
Barcelona will be without left-back Alejandro Balde, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, and Marc-André ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Marc Casado are also out due to knee injuries.
How has Borussia Dortmund been performing in the Bundesliga?
Dortmund’s Bundesliga form has been underwhelming, sitting in 8th place after a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich, 27 points behind the leaders.
