Barcelona take on the visitors Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. The match will be played on Wednesday, April 9th at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Barcelona).
Barcelona could still win the treble. The Blaugrana ended last season without any trophies — a disappointment that led Joan Laporta to finally part ways with Xavi. His replacement, Hansi Flick, inherited nearly the same squad (Dani Olmo was signed, while İlkay Gündoğan and others were let go), but has already lifted silverware — the Spanish Super Cup, beating both Athletic and Real Madrid. Domestically, Barcelona remain in contention for two more trophies. They’ve reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals, where they faced Atlético, and climbed back to the top of La Liga by spring. In the Champions League, despite some slip-ups, Lamine Yamal and company collected 19 points in the group stage. They then outclassed Benfica in the Round of 16, even winning away despite being down to ten men. The team looks much more balanced under Flick, showing consistency both in defense and attack. With key players like Pedri and Lewandowski hitting form, the Catalans are growing stronger at the right time.
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Borussia Dortmund regressed significantly in the Bundesliga last season. In 2023, they missed out on the title in the final round; in spring 2024, they lost out to RB Leipzig for a top-four spot. However, they reached the Champions League final, where only Real Madrid stopped them. This season, things have gone from bad to worse domestically. Whether under Nuri Şahin, who lasted only half a season, or now with Niko Kovač in charge, Dortmund have struggled badly and find themselves in the lower half of the Bundesliga table. Yet, in Europe, they continue to deliver. They won five games in the group stage to reach the knockouts, where they eliminated both Sporting CP and Lille. Interestingly, both ties were decided by strong away performances, as they only managed draws at home. Dortmund's counter-attacking style has suited them in Europe, but inconsistency remains a major concern. Against stronger opponents, their defensive lapses have often been exposed.
Barcelona and Dortmund have met three times in official competitions. In both the 1998 UEFA Super Cup and the 2019 Champions League group stage, Barça recorded one win and one draw. Most recently, they beat the Germans 3-2 away this past December. The Catalans have only improved since the start of winter, while Dortmund’s issues remain unresolved. Back the hosts with a -1.5 handicap.
Prediction for the match: Barcelona to win with -1.5 handicap.
