Verdict: Barcelona win & Both teams to score
Best Odds: 29/20
Bookmaker: Luckster
Getting their Champions League quarter-final adventure underway on Wednesday night, Barcelona will welcome Borussia Dortmund to Catalonia.
Barcelona
Starting with the hosts, while some around Catalonia might have been shocked last summer following Hansi Flick’s arrival, Barcelona are enjoying a remarkable fairytale under the former Bayern Munich boss. Although the Spanish giants might have eventually been forced to settle for a 1-1 stalemate against Real Betis over the weekend, they do hold a four-point buffer at the top of the La Liga table. Crowned Super Cup champions back in January as they claimed a famous 5-2 victory against arch-rivals Real Madrid over in the Middle East, Barca are riding a major wave of momentum. Not suffering a single defeat across any competition so far this calendar year, Flick’s men are regarded as a genuine European contender this season. Extending on their Champions League adventure last month as they secured a 4-1 aggregate win against Benfica, Tuesday’s hosts will be confident of claiming a first-leg advantage.
Barcelona Team News
Picking up a groin injury against Osasuna when returning from March’s international break, Barcelona will once again be without Spanish international Dani Olmo here. Likewise, dealing with a recent knee injury, former Athletic Bilbao defender Inigo Martinez is not expected to play any part on Wednesday night.
Enjoying what has been a remarkable European romp this season and notching 11 goals in his 10 Champions League appearances, ex-Leeds talisman Raphinha will play a leading role. Expected to sign a new deal in Catalonia, Wojciech Szczęsny will start between the sticks.
Borussia Dortmund
As for the visitors, although Borussia Dortmund might have endured a real domestic struggle this season, BVB have turned somewhat of a corner since Niko Kovac’s arrival in rural Germany. Booking their quarter-final spit last month as they collected a 3-2 aggregate win against Lille, the former Monaco boss has seen his squad win three of their previous four appearances across all competitions. Picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend as they stormed their way to a 4-1 romp away at Freiburg, BVB are more than capable of asking some real questions here. However, facing what should be a real challenge on Wednesday night, Dortmund should also be concerned by their most recent meeting against Barca. Falling to an action-packed 3-2 defeat when they welcomed the Spanish giants to Signal Iduna Park for a group stage showdown on December 11th, Kovac’s side are pencilled in as a real underdog contender in Catalonia.
Borussia Dortmund Team News
Missing out against Freiburg over the weekend, Borussia Dortmund are once again sweating over the fitness of former Bayern Munich defender Niklas Sule on Wednesday night. However, serving a domestic ban on Saturday, German international Nico Schlotterbeck will make an immediate return at the heart of Kovac’s defence.
Bagging 10 goals in his 12 Champions League appearances this season and making a real impact after arriving from Stuttgart last summer, Serhou Guirassy will shoulder most of Dortmund’s goalscoring threat. Arriving from Chelsea during the January transfer window on a loan deal, Carney Chukwuemeka could feature here.
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund Key Factors to Consider
- When Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund met for a group stage showdown on December 11th, Flick’s side collected a lively 3-2 victory in rural Germany.
- Barca have not suffered a single defeat across any competition so far this calendar year.
- Borussia Dortmund have failed to record a clean sheet in their previous six appearances across all formats.
- BVB have won five of their last seven matchups away from Signal Iduna Park.
- Brazilian ace Raphinha has recorded 11 goals in his 10 Champions League appearances this season.
Conclusion
Holding a four-point buffer at the top of the La Liga table and embarking on what has been a remarkable purple patch since opening 2025, Barcelona will be desperate to claim a first-leg advantage here. Booking their quarter-final ticket last month following a 4-1 aggregate win against Benfica, Flick’s camp will also be excited by their most recent showdown against Wednesday’s guests. Landing an action-packed 3-2 victory when they travelled to rural Germany for a group stage meeting on December 11th, Barca’s free-scoring attack will be confident of laying down another European marker in Catalonia.
Verdict: Barcelona win & Both teams to score
Best Odds: 29/20
Bookmaker: Luckster
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