Robert Lewandowski struck a splint to help a devastating Barcelona at Borcelona Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in a unilateral final match of the Champions League on Wednesday. The Barça de Hansi Flick is a step far from reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 2019 and has extended its undefeated race at 23 games. The victorious fivefolds took the lead against last year’s finalists through the Red Raphinha winger before Lewandowski reaches 40 goals for the season with his double. The teenager Lamine Yamal was an unstoppable force throughout and skillfully led the fourth of the house of Barcelona while Dortmund collapsed. Barça, which raised the trophy for the last time in 2015, aims to seal a Final Four confrontation against Inter Milan or Bayern Munich during their visit to Germany next Tuesday.
“I think we have played very well, but we still have a match to make … We still want to play our football and we want to play it and we will win,” Lewandowski told Movistar.
Flick warned his team that the work was not yet finished.
“You never know what will happen, football is a crazy sport, we have to play like today,” he said.
The coach has selected his typical side, with a single decision to make – he opted for Fermin Lopez on Gavi by attacking the midfielder to support the Dynamic Forward trio.
Liga leaders, Barcelona, took control from the start, opening the scoring after 25 minutes.
Lopez whipped a free kick at the rear post, with Inigo Martinez nodded towards Pau Cubarsi, who turned him towards the goal.
The young defender’s effort defeated Gregor Kobel and headed for the line before the top scorer in the tournament, Raphinha, slipped to secure, winning his 12th goal.
The Brazilian winger faced a nervous expectation while Var worked to confirm that his strike was next to it.
“I was worried about the first goal if I was offside, it was good that it was valid,” said Raphinha.
“I touched the ball before the line and I apologized to Cubarsi, he told me not to worry, he would consider him as an aid.”
Serhou Guirassy pushed some big chance for visitors to level before the break.
With the first Dortmund Dortmund attack movement of the game, the striker, who has 10 goals in competition, was played but seriously snatched a bouncing ball with just Wojciech Szczesny to beat.
Unsurprisingly, Dortmund by Niko Kovac came to regret the failures of Guirassy, Lewandowski filled his 10th in the tournament at the start of the second half.
Yamal cut a cross towards Raphinha, who completed a head towards Lewandowski with the distant post to nod with his head with his hand practically under the crossbar three minutes after the interval.
Lopez hit the post and got attached to a few centimeters while Barcelona was looking for a third to kill the link. He arrived after 66 minutes, Lopez attempting Lewandowski to drill at home with the near post.
It was the 29th goal of the former Dortmund striker in 28 games against his former club, and his 99th in a Barcelona shirt since his participation in 2022.
“I am very happy, 99 goals for the club,” added Lewandowski.
“In my head, I still haven’t only won, but helping the team with my qualities, my goals.
“I think attackers must always think of the objectives.”
Yamal, who had played with Dortmund’s defense overnight, rightly climbed the match sheet when the visitors opened widely and Raphinha sent the young man by the goal.
The only concern for Barça was that Yamal asked to be replaced in the last stages, although he smiled because he had an ovation.
“He’s going well, he had played too many minutes (lately),” said Flick.
Barça targets a quadruple potential this season and on this evidence, they will take a stop.
Dortmund was left to lick their injuries.
“We weren’t cohesive enough, and moreover, we made simple mistakes – at this level, they are harsh punite,” Emre Can’s told Dazn de Dortmund.
“I think we can do better, even if (Barça attackers) are so good, I know.”
(This story has not been published by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a unionized flow.)
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