Barcelona will face Borussia Dortmund in a highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final clash tonight at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany. The two European giants meet at 20:00 BST, with the Spanish side aiming to extend their unbeaten run to 23 games across all competitions.
Barcelona, currently leading La Liga by 12 points, will be without the suspended Sergio Busquets, while Dortmund, sitting third in the Bundesliga, are expected to have their key players available. The winner of tonight’s tie will face either Villarreal or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. Both teams have a rich history in this competition, with Barcelona having won it 14 times and Dortmund twice. The last time these two sides met in the Champions League was in the 2017-18 quarter-finals, with Barcelona winning 4-1 on aggregate.
Barcelona and Dortmund set for crucial Champions League showdown
Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund are set to face off in a crucial Champions League quarter-final first leg tonight at Signal Iduna Park. The two European heavyweights meet with a place in the semi-finals hanging in the balance.
Barcelona, under the guidance of manager Xavi, enter the tie in impressive form. The Catalan giants have won their last five matches in all competitions. Dortmund, meanwhile, have shown their own attacking prowess this season. The German side have scored 30 goals in their last 10 matches.
The clash promises to be a tactical battle between two of Europe’s most exciting coaches. Xavi’s possession-based philosophy will go head-to-head with Dortmund’s high-intensity, pressing style. Both managers have stressed the importance of the tie.
“Dortmund are a fantastic team with incredible players,” Xavi said at his pre-match press conference. “We know it will be a tough game, but we are ready for the challenge.” Dortmund boss Edin Terzic echoed the sentiment. “Barcelona are a top team, but we are confident in our abilities,” he stated.
Key to the match could be the form of the respective forwards. Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski has 27 goals this season, while Dortmund’s Niclas Füllkrug has scored 12 times in his last 10 appearances. Both will be crucial if their sides are to progress.
The match kicks off at 20:00 BST, with live coverage available on BT Sport. The return leg will take place at Camp Nou next week.
Tonight's Champions League clash pits Barcelona against Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund meet tonight in a crucial Champions League group stage clash at Signal Iduna Park. The match kicks off at 20:00 BST, with both teams desperate for a win to boost their knockout round qualification hopes.
Barcelona currently sit second in Group F with four points, two behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Dortmund occupy third place, one point ahead of fourth-placed AC Milan. A victory for the German side would significantly improve their chances of progressing to the next round.
The Catalan giants have struggled in recent away matches, winning just one of their last five on the road. Dortmund, however, have been formidable at home, losing only once in their last 10 Champions League home games.
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has confirmed that Ousmane Dembele will miss the match due to a muscle injury. The French winger has been a key player for the Spanish side this season. Dortmund, meanwhile, will be without Marcel Schmelzer, who is serving a one-match suspension.
Both teams have been in good form domestically, with Barcelona winning their last five La Liga matches. Dortmund have also been impressive, losing just once in their last 10 Bundesliga fixtures. The match promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams eager to secure a vital three points.
Barcelona and Dortmund prepare for crucial Champions League encounter
Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund meet tonight in a pivotal Champions League quarter-final first leg. The Catalan giants enter the tie as favourites, with Dortmund manager Edin Terzic acknowledging the challenge ahead. “Barcelona are a top team with world-class players,” Terzic stated in his pre-match press conference.
Barcelona’s attacking trio of Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, and Gavi pose a significant threat. Lewandowski, the club’s top scorer this season with 34 goals, will look to add to his tally against a Dortmund defence that has conceded 43 goals in all competitions.
Dortmund, however, have shown resilience this season. They have won seven of their last 10 matches in all competitions, with Julian Brandt and Donyell Malen leading their attack. Brandt has scored eight goals and provided six assists this season, while Malen has netted 11 times.
Barcelona’s manager, Xavi, has warned his team not to underestimate their opponents. “Dortmund are a strong team with a lot of quality,” Xavi said. “We need to be at our best to get a positive result.”
The match kicks off at 20:00 BST at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. The return leg will be played at Camp Nou next week.
All eyes on Messi and Haaland as Barcelona face Dortmund
Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund lock horns tonight in a highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final first leg. The Camp Nou clash pits two of Europe’s most exciting attacking talents against each other: Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.
Messi, Barcelona’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals, will be eager to extend his lead in the competition’s all-time top scorers list, where he currently sits third with 120 goals. The Argentine has been in scintillating form this season, netting 30 goals in all competitions.
Haaland, meanwhile, has taken Europe by storm with his prolific goal-scoring record. The Norwegian has found the net 44 times this season, including 10 goals in this season’s Champions League. Dortmund will hope their young star can fire them to a famous victory in Spain.
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has warned his players about Dortmund’s counter-attacking threat. “They are very dangerous on the counter-attack,” Koeman said at his pre-match press conference. “We need to be very focused and compact defensively.”
Dortmund’s head coach Lucien Favre is expecting a tough test against Barcelona. “They are a top team with world-class players,” Favre said. “We will need to be at our best to have a chance.”
The match kicks off at 20:00 BST, with Barcelona slight favourites in the eyes of bookmakers. The return leg will take place at Signal Iduna Park next week.
Champions League showdown: Barcelona host Dortmund tonight
Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund meet tonight in a crucial Champions League quarter-final first leg at Camp Nou. The Spanish giants, seeking their fifth European Cup, face a Dortmund side aiming to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2013.
Barcelona, top of La Liga, enter the tie in strong form. They have won five consecutive matches in all competitions, most recently defeating Real Sociedad 3-0 on Saturday. Dortmund, meanwhile, are second in the Bundesliga, two points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
The hosts will be without key defender Ronald Araújo, who suffered a muscle injury in the weekend win. Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals, is expected to start despite a minor ankle issue.
Barcelona manager Xavi described the tie as “huge” ahead of the match. “Dortmund are a fantastic team with incredible individual quality,” he said at his pre-match press conference. Dortmund counterpart Edin Terzić praised Barcelona’s “outstanding” squad but insisted his side would approach the game positively.
The return leg takes place next week in Germany. The winners will face either Villarreal or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund meet tonight in a highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final clash. The Catalan giants, seeking their first UCL title since 2015, face a Dortmund side riding high on momentum after eliminating Chelsea. Both teams boast formidable attacking talents, with Robert Lewandowski and Jude Bellingham set to be key figures. The winner will advance to the semi-finals, while the loser’s season will take a significant blow. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of Europe’s most exciting sides.
