Barcelona hit Dortmund for 4 in Champions League quarterfinal

Barcelona set sights on Champions League progress with 4-0 residence win in quarterfinal first leg in opposition to Borussia Dortmund.

Barcelona claimed a commanding 4-0 residence win over Borussia Dortmund within the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.

Robert Lewandowski scored twice and Raphinha recorded a purpose and an help on Wednesday, leaving the Catalan membership in a robust place to succeed in the semifinals for the primary time since 2019.

Lamine Yamal additionally scored as Barcelona dealt a hammer blow to the German facet’s hopes of advancing.

The return match is subsequent Tuesday at Dortmund, who had been final yr’s runners-up within the remaining in opposition to Barcelona’s fierce rivals, Actual Madrid.

“We performed very properly, however we are able to’t be occupied with the semifinals but,” Lewandowski mentioned. “We scored 4 objectives at residence, however we nonetheless have the return leg to play.”

Raphinha added to his Champions League-leading tally by poking the ball into the open internet within the twenty fifth minute for his twelfth purpose within the competitors this season. He then helped arrange Lewandowski’s first purpose of the evening within the forty eighth.

Lewandowski scored his eleventh Champions League purpose with a one-timer within the 66th earlier than Yamal closed the scoring within the 77th.

The 36-year-old Lewandowski has scored 14 Champions League objectives after the age of 35, two greater than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lewandowski had scored 17 of his 105 profession objectives within the Champions League for Dortmund over three seasons, from 2011-14.

The Polish striker, who can be the Spanish league’s main scorer this season with 25 objectives, has 40 objectives this season.

“In my head, I at all times need to be serving to the group with my high quality and my objectives,” Lewandowski mentioned. “A striker at all times must be occupied with scoring objectives, and when the group performs properly, it turns into simpler for me.”

Raphinha has scored in every of Barcelona’s final 4 Champions League knockout stage matches, with seven objectives in that span.

He entered the match with 11 objectives, yet another than Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane.

Additionally Wednesday within the quarterfinals, a marvel purpose from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia upstaged an excellent curling shot from teammate Want Doue as Paris Saint-Germain beat Aston Villa 3-1.