- MADRID — FC Barcelona hit top gear and
all but ensured its place in the Champions League semifinal with a 4-0 win at
home to Borussia Dortmund in their quarterfinal first-leg tie.
-
- Apart from a short period at the end of the first half,
Hansi Flick's side dominated proceedings with the attacking trio of Robert
Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, with Pedri pulling the strings in
midfield, tearing their rivals apart.
-
- Barcelona was fast out of the blocks with Yamal cutting
inside from the right and seeing a shot saved by Gregor Kobel.
-
- Raphinha then worked his way along the touchline and flashed
the ball across the face of goal. The Brazilian turned his side's positive
start into a goal in the 25th minute, sliding in to score from very close range
after Pau Cubarsi had turned Inigo Martinez's header goalwards.
Also read: Champions League: Rice free-kicks inspire Arsenal to QF first leg win over Madrid
- The goal needed a VAR check to stand and Raphinha would have
looked bad if the goal had been ruled out as Cubarsi's initial touch was going
in.
-
- Another fast attack from Barca moments later saw him send
the ball wide after Yamal led a rapid break, before Dortmund began to work its
way into the match.
-
- Karim Adeyemi sent over an excellent ball from the left that
was just in front of Serhou Guirassy, before Guirassy missed a better chance
and Jamie Gittens saw a shot blocked.
-
- Those were expensive misses as Robert Lewandowski doubled
Barca's lead three minutes after the break, heading in from close range after
Raphinha had nodded Yamal's excellent cross across the face of goal.
-
- Barca were back on top with Fermin Lopez - preferred to Gavi
in the starting 11 - hitting one shot wide and seeing another blocked by a
defender, while Kobel saved from Lewandowski, who then mishit the rebound.
