Barcelona took a large leap in direction of the Champions League spherical of 16 after beating Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on Wednesday evening.
The competition at Sign Iduna Park burst into life within the second-half after a goalless opening interval. Barca twice surrendered benefits with Serhou Guirassy scoring a brace, however Ferran Torres ensured the guests snatched all three factors by notching two objectives of his personal.
Hansi Flick’s aspect at the moment are as much as second within the league part desk, whereas Dortmund have dropped out of the highest eight.
How the match unfolded
We have seen Europe’s aristocracy collapse beneath the lights at Sign Iduna Park, and the Yellow Wall was fervent in anticipation for Barcelona’s go to right here.
The La Liga leaders, nevertheless, weren’t shackled by the environment and instantly settled into the competition. Dani Olmo wreaked havoc between the strains early on, facilitating a few early possibilities from crossing conditions which Barca did not benefit from. Raphinha seemingly would’ve been known as offside had he transformed Lamine Yamal’s completely disgusting trivela cross.
After a superb opening, Dortmund’s compactness began to frustrate Flick’s aspect, who struggled to time their passes in behind and have been sometimes hesitant to check the hosts’ block.
Dortmund have been passive however compact, with an uninspiring opening half-hour adopted up by a vivid finish to the primary half. Marcel Sabitzer spurned an important probability from Julien Duranville’s cut-back, whereas Guirassy drew a point-blank save from Inaki Pena earlier than he was flagged offside after assembly Giovanni Reyna’s cross.
The hosts have been doubtlessly extra enterprising after the restart, and that contributed to the thrills and spills that ensued. Barca twice seemed like they’d take full management of the competition, however Dortmund pegged them again. Raphinha and Ferran Torres scored both aspect of a Guirassy penalty earlier than the BVB striker scored his second of the sport to attract Sahin’s aspect degree for a second time.
With Flick’s substitutions disrupting Barca’s management, Dortmund appeared the extra prone to safe a memorable victory. Nevertheless, BVB defended woefully from their very own nook within the closing ten minutes, permitting Barca to breakaway at pace and entry Ferran in behind.
The prospect initially appeared to flee the Spaniard, however he settled his toes inside the realm and completed fantastically previous Kobel handy Barca a 3-2 lead. Whereas a sixth aim could not have been dominated out given the frantic nature of the second-half, the guests held out for a giant Champions League triumph.
Try the participant rankings for Bourssia Dortmund vs Barcelona right here.
There have been some supreme performers for Barcelona this season, however none extra spectacular than Raphinha. The previous Leeds United star struggled to dazzle throughout his first two years on the membership, however he is now fully fulfilling his ‘childhood dream’.
Raphinha donned the captain’s armband once more, though he appeared to understand it in his left hand for elements of the competition. Nonetheless, the Catalan flag was strapped tight to his higher arm as he ran in behind the Dortmund backline and opened the scoring having been well fed by Dani Olmo.
The Brazilian may’ve simply laid the ball on a plate for Lamine Yamal to faucet dwelling, however there was just one factor on his thoughts as he entered the Dortmund field. His left-footed end was emphatic as he recorded his sixth Champions League aim of the marketing campaign in as many video games.
27 aim contributions in a mere 22 outings this time period. That is Raphinha’s workforce.
There have been some accusations of Barcelona’s bench failing to fireside this season, with Flick settling upon a beginning XI which is starting to indicate some put on and tear.
The German opted for a triple change with 20 minutes remaining in Dortmund, and it was certainly one of these entrants who received the sport for the guests.
Ferran is proving himself as a helpful different to Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski. He is comparatively snug dropping in or taking part in large, however is at his only when penetrating in behind.
Ferran mixed with fellow substitute Fermin Lopez for his first aim, tapping dwelling from shut vary after Fermin’s shot was saved. His second, teed up by Yamal, was an outstanding end – one worthy of profitable any recreation.
Barca maybe surrendered extra management within the closing 20 minutes, however Flick will take nice satisfaction in realizing that his modifications assist tilt the competition in his workforce’s favour.
There is a promising Dortmund era, spearheaded by Jamie Gittens, coming via, and Sahin handed a primary Champions League begin to 18-year-old Duranville on Wednesday evening.
The winger has featured sporadically for BVB this season having suffered a hamstring damage within the autumn, however his efficiency in opposition to Barca highlighted a participant who might nicely have a giant function to play for Sahin’s aspect transferring ahead.
Duranville was fearless attacking Alejandro Balde one-on-one. He has a low centre of gravity and an incredible burst of tempo which renders his dribbling model explosive. Balde was by no means positive what precisely Duranville was as much as when the pair confronted off down Dortmund’s proper. The winger is primarily left-footed, however he is snug together with his proper and able to beating his man on the skin.
Duranville created the very best probability of the primary half after skipping previous Balde and establishing Sabitzer, however the Austrian worldwide blazed over. It was a sequence which exemplified the winger’s risk, and though his second half was quieter, the Yellow Wall should’ve been enamoured with {the teenager}’s glimpses.
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