Borussia Dortmund will need to pull off something special when they host Barcelona for the second leg of the quarter-final, having suffered a 4-0 defeat in the first leg.
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona have already taken a massive step towards the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, having smashed Borussia Dortmund at home last week. Now, the Blaugrana will be keen to finish the job at Signal Iduna Park and shift their focus to the next round.
The home team have not been at their best this season. They struggled to get the desired results for most of the season, which resulted in the sacking of Nuri Sahin. Niko Kovac’s arrival has helped them get things back on track to some extent.
While the Black and Yellows have climbed back to eighth on the table and will be hoping to finish in a European spot, they have a mountain to climb in the UEFA Champions League, having lost the first leg 4-0. Only a miracle can keep the finalists from last season alive in the competition.
Meanwhile, the visitors have been flying high under Flick. They atop La Liga, have booked their place in the Copa del Rey final and already have a foot in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Given the kind of performances the Catalan giants have put in throughout the ongoing campaign, they should easily make it through.
While Barcelona were not at their best against CD Leganes this past weekend, they did get the job done, and that is exactly what they need to do against Borussia Dortmund. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund do have a boost heading into this fixture, as Pascal Gross is back after serving a suspension in the first leg. But the hosts do remain without the services of Marcel Sabitzer and Nico Schlotterbeck, who are both out injured.
Niko Kovac has gone ahead with a back three of late, but he might switch to a 4-2-3-1 for this fixture as his team needs to go all-out attack. Gregor Kobel will take charge in goal for Borussia Dortmund against Barcelona, while Julian Ryerson and Ramy Bensebaini will be the full-backs. In the heart of the defence, skipper Emre Can should partner with Waldemar Anton.
The back four will look for a clean sheet, and they will receive support from Pascal Gross and Felix Nmecha. Julian Brandt will take up the no.10 role, with Jamie Gittens and Karim Adeyemi featuring on the flanks.
Serhou Guirassy will lead the line for Borussia Dortmund against Barcelona. One of Dortmund’s front four will need to produce something special if they are to have any chance of staying alive in the tie.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Can, Anton, Bensebaini; Gross, Nmecha; Gittens, Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy
Barcelona
Alejandro Balde picked up an injury against Leganes, and he has joined Dani Olmo, Marc Casado, Marc Bernal, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen on the sidelines. While Olmo is closing in on a return, this fixture might be a touch too early for him.
The visitors will stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Wojciech Szczesny will be in goal. Jules Kounde and Gerard Martin could be the full-backs for this one. In the heart of the defence, Ronald Araujo should partner with Inigo Martinez.
As for the midfield unit, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong will form the double pivot in the middle of the park. They will look to shield the backline and control the tempo of the game. Fermin Lopez could continue in the no. 10 role, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha on the flanks. Robert Lewandowski should spearhead the Barcelona attack against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Martin; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Lopez, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Key Stats
- Having never won a UEFA Champions League game against Barcelona (D1 L3), Borussia Dortmund will have to pull off something incredible to progress to the next round.
- The last time Borussia Dortmund hosted Barcelona at Signal Iduna Park, the match ended in a goalless draw.
- In their four previous meetings, Borussia Dortmund have only managed three goals against Barcelona. They will need to score at least four in the next ninety minutes to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
- Barcelona had lost five straight Champions League games against German clubs but have now won each of their last three.
- The Catalan giants are unbeaten in their last 16 away games, and they are on an eight-match winning streak on the road.
Player to Watch
Robert Lewandowski
At 36, Lewandowski remains one of the best strikers in the world. He has been in sensational form since the start of the season. The Polish international has featured in a total of 46 matches and has racked up over 3,500 minutes for first-team action. He has managed to contribute towards 43 goals.
The former Bayern Munich star has found the back of the net on 40 occasions, and he averages a goal every 88th minute. Having bagged a brace in the first leg against one of his former clubs, the Pole will be eager to add to his tally when he returns to the Signal Iduna Park.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund are expected to put up a much better fight in the second leg, especially with their fans behind them at Signal Iduna Park. Niko Kovac’s men will look to make an early impact and test Barcelona’s defence. They do need an early goal or two to give their fans some hope of a comeback. However, given the scale of the task, even a strong performance might not be enough to overturn the deficit.
Barcelona, on the other hand, have been ruthless in the knockout stages and are unlikely to take their foot off the gas. While they might not be able to keep a clean sheet away from home, Hansi Flick’s team should still have enough quality to get the job done. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for the away team. Barcelona to go through 6-1 on aggregate.
