Barcelona edged closer to a UEFA Champions League semifinal spot with a blistering 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Olympic Stadium. Goals from Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski (twice), and Lamine Yamal sealed the win, moving Barça into pole position for a final four meeting against either Bayern Munich or Internazionale.
Coach Hansi Flick praised his team’s unity and attacking prowess, saying, “They never put the handbrake on. It’s not finished at 2-0 or 3-0.” Lewandowski echoed this sentiment, stating that they must maintain their high level of performance in the second leg next week.
The Polish striker has been in scintillating form, scoring 40 goals for the season and 99 in his time with Barça. His impressive record against Dortmund includes an astonishing 29 goals in just 28 games since joining the club from Bayern Munich in 2014.
Raphinha is also having a phenomenal Champions League season, leading the competition with 12 goals and 19 goal contributions. His first goal against Dortmund was his easiest yet, but he later expressed relief that VAR confirmed his onside position after a nerve-wracking wait.
Yamal’s impressive performance included becoming the first player to score multiple goals in the Champions League knockout rounds before turning 18. The teenager’s sublime pass to López set up Lewandowski for his second goal, and Yamal capped off his night with another strike.
Barcelona have now scored 36 goals in just 11 Champions League games, an average of over three per match. Their unbeaten run stretches to 23 games in all competitions, fueling speculation about a potential treble – although Lewandowski cautioned against complacency, saying, “If you are saying that another team is going to win, I don’t know why you go out on the pitch to play, so we can win the treble.”
Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44607096/barca-quietly-building-one-greatest-ucl-campaigns-ever