Wednesday, April 9th, at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals—a crucial match that could define their seasons. It’s a game the home side simply can’t afford to lose. Having already lifted the Spanish Super Cup back in January, Barcelona are still in the hunt for La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League glory. Hansi Flick’s side, currently top of the league and finalists in the national cup, are enjoying a phenomenal run of 22 matches unbeaten in all competitions. With an attacking trio boasting Raphinha, Yamal, and Lewandowski, dreaming of a historic quadruple isn’t far-fetched. But to keep that dream alive, they’ll need a strong win in this first leg against Borussia Dortmund. The Black and Yellows, after reaching last year’s Champions League final, have had a season of highs and lows. Still, recent performances have sparked hope as they push for a European spot. It’s worth noting that these two teams already faced each other earlier in this Champions League campaign during the single-group phase, with Barcelona winning 3-2 away from home.

Barcelona's Recent Form and Key Statistics

Barcelona come into this match after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Real Betis in their most recent La Liga fixture. However, thanks to Real Madrid’s loss to Valencia, the Catalans extended their lead at the top to +4 points, further solidifying their position.

They are currently on a 22-game unbeaten streak across all competitions (18 wins, 4 draws).

In Europe, Barcelona’s campaign has been nearly flawless. They finished the group stage in second place with 19 points (6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) and then comfortably dispatched Benfica in the Round of 16, winning both legs 0-1 and 3-1. Their Champions League record so far stands at 8 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, with 32 goals scored and 14 conceded in 10 matches.

Borussia Dortmund's Recent Form and Key Statistics

Borussia Dortmund, with recent Bundesliga wins over Mainz and Freiburg, have climbed to 8th place, now just 5 points behind 4th. After 28 matchdays, the Black and Yellows boast the 4th-best attack in the Bundesliga with 52 goals (an average of 1.85 per match), but defensively they struggle, ranking 11th, conceding 1.53 goals per game on average.

In the Champions League, Kovac's side finished the group stage in 10th place with 15 points (5 wins, 3 losses). They’ve reached the quarter-finals after knocking out Sporting Lisbon in the playoffs and Lille in the Round of 16. In 12 UCL games, they’ve scored 28 goals and conceded 14.

Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund Prediction and Tactical Overview

This season, Barcelona have been nearly unstoppable—their last defeat dates back to December 21st. Moreover, they’ve already beaten Dortmund away in the group phase, 2-3, thanks to goals from Raphinha and a brace by Torres.

Despite their recent form, Borussia Dortmund don’t appear strong enough to pose a real threat to Barcelona—especially away from home, where they’ve lost 5 of their last 10 games.

As for team news, Hansi Flick will be without Bernal, Casado, Olmo, and Ter Stegen, while Kovac must do without Sabitzer and the suspended Gross.

Given the attacking firepower on both sides, the BetMines algorithm prediction for Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund forecasts a match with over 2.5 goals.

• The BetMines prediction for the Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund match predicts Over 2.5 goals at 68%.
• The BetMines prediction for the Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund match predicts Under 2.5 goals at 32%.

Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund Predicted Lineups

Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsí, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha; Lewandowski. Coach: Flick

Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Emre Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Nmecha, Chukwuemeka; Adeyemi, Brandt, Beier; Guirassy. Coach: Kovac