Champions League Clash: Borussia Dortmund vs. Barcelona

Hello world! Borussia Dortmund kicked off their season in high spirits, clinching victories in seven of their initial ten matches. They celebrated big wins, putting four goals past teams like Phonix Lubeck, Heidenheim, and Bochum, and an astounding seven past Celtic. Despite these triumphs, their path has been bumpy, with all three non-victories within the Bundesliga, placing them eighth. Just three points separate them from sixth-placed Monchengladbach and twelfth-placed Wolfsburg, who ousted them from the German Cup in October. Yet, Dortmund finds themselves in the Champions League quarter-finals, heading to Barcelona with coach Niko Kovac declaring their ambition: “We came here to win.” Kovac hints at a tactical approach: “Every opponent has weaknesses, and we aim to exploit them,” he says, keeping their strategy under wraps.

Barcelona, on the other hand, remains undefeated in 2025, having played 22 games with no losses. Although not all matches were victories, as they’ve ended four in draws, they currently top La Liga and have a Copa Del Rey final to anticipate this month. Overconfidence seems to be their main concern. “Dortmund has a host of skilled players, and their presence in the quarter-finals is no fluke,” remarks Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s coach. The upcoming match will certainly test these assertions.

Updated at 14.45 EDT

In a testament to the game’s significance, 560 accredited journalists will be present, accompanied by representatives from 88 rights-holding broadcasters, setting a record turnout. This number seems excessive, yet speaks volumes about the match’s impact.

The teams!

The team sheet is out, and the line-ups are as follows:

Barcelona: Szczesny, Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde, De Jong, Gonzalez, Yamal, Lopez, Raphinha, Lewandowski. Substitutes: Pena, Kochen, Araujo, Gavi, Torres, Fati, Torre, Christensen, Victor, Garcia, Fort, Gerard.

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel, Bensebaini, Anton, Can, Ryerson, Nmecha, Chukwuemeka, Adeyemi, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens, Guirassy. Substitutes: Meyer, Laurenz Lotka, Yan Couto, Ozcan, Reyna, Beier, Duranville, Svensson, Sule, Watjen, Kabar.

The referee for the match is Espen Eskas from Norway.