INA FASSBENDER / AFP
Serhou Guirassy after scoring Dortmund’s opener at Signal Iduna Park.
William AllenPosted at: 15:36 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 15:37 EDT 15/04/2025
That’s terrific defending by Süle, who celebrates as if he’d rocketed a 30-yarder into the top corner.
Lewandowski produces a wonderful, first-time offload to release Raphinha into space on the left wing. However, Süle is back quickly to dispossess the Brazilian, before he can advance on towards the danger area.
William AllenPosted at: 15:36 EDT 15/04/2025
On present evidence, Dortmund have more goals in them.
From the right-hand channel, Gross curls a delivery into the middle, where Beier has a free header. He nods firmly towards goal, but Szczesny grabs hold. The flag is up against Beier anyway, I think.
William AllenPosted at: 15:34 EDT 15/04/2025
Flick looked more than a little cheesed off over on the touchline. And little wonder, frankly.
William AllenPosted at: 15:32 EDT 15/04/2025
Oh, wow. Anton gets himself into a dreadful mess there, but gets away with it.
The Dortmund defender’s clearance bounces back off Fermín, giving Barça a three-on-two all of a sudden. The visitors waste the opportunity, though.
Lewandowski feeds it back to Fermín, who runs into the box and gets his finish all wrong. Not only that, but he is offside when Lewandowski plays the pass, so it wouldn’t have counted anyway.
William AllenPosted at: 15:32 EDT 15/04/2025
Adeyemi twists and turns on the left wing, but can’t find a way through.
Dortmund recycle the ball out to the right-hand channel, where Nmecha lifts a ball around the corner and into the Barça box. His pass runs straight through to Szczesny.
William AllenPosted at: 15:28 EDT 15/04/2025
Barça win a free-kick deep on the left. Raphinha thuds a high ball over to the back stick, where Cubarsí rises to meet it. He can’t turn it towards goal or to a colleague, and – despite Araujo’s attempts to prevent it – Dortmund clear.
William AllenPosted at: 15:26 EDT 15/04/2025
Dortmund win a corner on the left, which is whipped over to the far post. Bensebaini is there to nod it towards goal, but it’s comfortable for Szczesny.
Nonetheless, this is proving a far more intriguing second leg than I, for one, was expecting.
William AllenPosted at: 15:24 EDT 15/04/2025
In what feels like Barça’s first real spell in the Dortmund half for a good 10 minutes or so, Raphinha cuts inside from the left. He clips an outside-of-the-boot ball into the area, where men in Blaugrana shirts are waiting, but Dortmund deal with it.
William AllenPosted at: 15:23 EDT 15/04/2025
Gross has the ball in the net for Dortmund – but he’s offside, and he knew it.
Nmecha fed a low through ball into the former Brighton man’s path, and he carried it on into the Barça box. With Szczesny coming out to meet him, he dinked it past the Pole and into the net… but it won’t count.
William AllenPosted at: 15:21 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 15:28 EDT 15/04/2025
At Villa Park, PSG have now extended their aggregate lead to 4-1. Achraf Hakimi has given the visitors an early lead in Birmingham.
Follow Aston Villa vs PSG live with AS USA.
William AllenPosted at: 15:20 EDT 15/04/2025
That goal is Dortmund’s reward for a very lively opening 10 minutes or so.
William AllenPosted at: 15:17 EDT 15/04/2025
Guirassy’s Panenka-style spot-kick is just – just – low enough to creep in underneath the bar.
Dortmund still have a huge chunk of Everest still to climb, but an early goal is the crucial first step in any comeback.
William AllenPosted at: 15:14 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 15:17 EDT 15/04/2025
Gross runs through and is brought down by Szczesny – and Mariani points to the spot!
The penalty award is initially overruled for an offside, before a VAR check confirms that there was no such infringement.
William AllenPosted at: 15:14 EDT 15/04/2025
This is proving a lively couple of minutes for Dortmund.
Again Adeyemi and Guirassy are involved, the former turning it into the path of the latter inside the box. Guirassy is pretty much lying on his back when he receives it, though, and he can only waft a leg at the ball, somewhat unsuccessfully.
A moment later, the hosts want a penalty for a Gavi challenge on Yan Couto, but they don’t get one.
William AllenPosted at: 15:12 EDT 15/04/2025
Well, well, that’s a better opening for the hosts. An early goal is crucial to any hopes of a comeback, and they almost have one there.
Adeyemi feeds it out to the left to Svensson, who fizzes in a low ball towards Guirassy in the middle. It’s a good ball, too – but Guirassy can’t turn it past Szczesny from six yards out.
William AllenPosted at: 15:10 EDT 15/04/2025
The first shot of the night goes to Dortmund.
Guirassy does well to win it back on the left-hand side, before feeding Beier in a central area.
Beier has plenty of space to scuttle forward and let fly, but he drags his strike well wide from 30 yards or so.
William AllenPosted at: 15:08 EDT 15/04/2025
In the game’s first moment of real attacking purpose so far, Fermín tries to lift a pass over to the left-hand side of the box, where Raphinha has made a forward run. Fermín’s ball is far too close to Kobel, who scampers off his line to claim.
William AllenPosted at: 15:06 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 15:07 EDT 15/04/2025
Barcelona, by the way, are sporting the rather unusual combination of home shirt + white shorts.
William AllenPosted at: 15:04 EDT 15/04/2025
Peeeep! After what actually turned out to be an applause rather than a silence, Signor Mariani gets us going!
William AllenPosted at: 15:04 EDT 15/04/2025
Signal Iduna Park pays respects to Burgsmüller
Before we get underway in Dortmund, there’ll be a minute’s silence for BVB club legend Wilhelm Burgsmüller, who died at the age of 93 earlier this month.
William AllenPosted at: 15:02 EDT 15/04/2025
The Chaaaaampiooons
Out come the teams! UCL anthem time!
William AllenPosted at: 14:59 EDT 15/04/2025
Last look at the line-ups
The two teams are lining up in the Signal Iduna Park tunnel as we speak.
Here’s a final reminder of the XIs:
Borussia Dortmund
Kobel, Süle, Anton, Bensebaini, Yan Couto, Nmecha, Gross, Svensson, Beier, Adeyemi, Guirassy
Barcelona
Szczesny, Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsí, Martín, De Jong, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha, Lewandowski
William AllenPosted at: 14:57 EDT 15/04/2025
CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF / EFE
Flick brings up Barça half century
Today’s game is Hansi Flick’s 50th as Barcelona boss, by the way.
In his 49 matches in the Blaugrana dugout so far, he’s overseen 37 victories, six draws and six defeats.
William AllenPosted at: 14:55 EDT 15/04/2025
Also in UCL action tonight…
A reminder that you can also follow live-text coverage of today’s other Champions League quarter-final clash on AS USA.
Over in Birmingham, Villa host a PSG team that have one foot in the semi-finals, after the Ligue 1 champions ran out 3-1 winners in last week’s first leg.
William AllenPosted at: 14:53 EDT 15/04/2025
Who is the VAR?
The video assistant referee for Dortmund vs Barça is Italy’s Marco Di Bello. His assistant VAR will be compatriot Daniele Doveri.
William AllenPosted at: 14:49 EDT 15/04/2025
Who is tonight’s referee?
Match referee Maurizio Mariani will be leading an all-Italian team of officials at Signal Iduna Park.
Marian’s assistants are Daniele Bindoni and Alberto Tegoni, and the fourth official is Simone Souza.
William AllenPosted at: 14:48 EDT 15/04/2025
Dortmund chase another UCL semi
Were Borussia Dortmund to become the second ever UCL team to turn a four-goal first-leg deficit on its head, the Germans would reach their second straight Champions League semi-final.
Under Edin Terzic, Dortmund made it all the way to last season’s final, before losing 2-0 to Real Madrid at Wembley.
William AllenPosted at: 14:46 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 14:50 EDT 15/04/2025
How many teams have overturned a four-goal first-leg deficit in the UCL?
I expect you don’t need me to tell you that the answer is: one. And that it was Dortmund’s opponents who did it.
Under current PSG boss Luis Enrique, Barça recovered from a 4-0 first-leg defeat to the Frenchmen in 2016/17.
Sergi Roberto’s toe-poked volley sealed a historic remontada, as the Blaugrana won the return 6-1 to win the last-16 tie.
William AllenPosted at: 14:43 EDT 15/04/2025
Warm-ups well underway
With just about 20 minutes to go until kick-off, both teams are out and limbering up.
William AllenPosted at: 14:39 EDT 15/04/2025
Fearsome Flick
Dortmund’s record against any team coach by Flick isn’t good, either.
The 60-year-old has won seven out of seven career meetings with Dortmund as a coach.
William AllenPosted at: 14:37 EDT 15/04/2025
Barça on verge of emulating the Gers
According to Opta, Dortmund’s negative streak in games against Barça is just one short of their longest ever winless run against a European opponent.
William AllenPosted at: 14:34 EDT 15/04/2025
When the teams last met in Dortmund…
Barcelona’s unbeaten record against Dortmund includes a match-up at Signal Iduna Park earlier this season.
The teams faced off in the league phase in December, with the visitors winning a thriller.
Barça were twice pegged back by Serhou Guirassy goals for Dortmund, but emerged with a 3-2 victory thanks to Ferran Torres’s late winner.
William AllenPosted at: 14:32 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 14:35 EDT 15/04/2025
Barça unbeaten by Borussia
By the way, if Dortmund are to somehow turn this tie around, they’ll need to produce a result that belies their woeful head-to-head record against Barcelona.
In six meetings in European competition, the Germans have never beaten the Blaugrana: Barça have won four, with two draws.
William AllenPosted at: 14:30 EDT 15/04/2025
Can Lewa beat his UCL PB?
Lewandowski needs four more goals to beat his single-season personal best in the Champions League: he banged in 15 for Bayern in the Germans’ most recent European title-winning campaign, in 2019/20.
It is worth noting, though, that Raphinha is actually Barça’s top scorer in Europe this term. The Brazilian is one ahead of Lewandowski, on 12.
The outright single-season record is currently Cristiano Ronaldo’s: the Portuguese hit an unmatched 17 for Real Madrid in 2013/14.
William AllenPosted at: 14:28 EDT 15/04/2025
Lewandowski on cusp of Culé century
Now 36, Robert Lewandowski is on 99 goals for Barcelona – just two and a half years after joining the club.
In his 141 appearances for Barça, the Pole also has 20 assists.
And this term has been Lewandowski’s most prolific in Catalonia: he has racked up 40 goals in 46 games, including 11 in 11 in the Champions League.
William AllenPosted at: 14:24 EDT 15/04/2025
What the coaches said: Hansi Flick
Second leg:
“I’m happy that we won 4-0 [in the first leg], because I know it’s going to be a very tough game here. Whatever team I field, what’s important is that the players show how good they are and enjoy playing on this stage against some of the best players in Europe. We can’t take any game lightly.”
Hansi Flick, Barcelona head coach
Lewandowski:
“When you’re playing at such a high level at his age, it means you’re a talented player but also highly professional and take care of yourself. Day after day, he shows the professional that he is.”
Hansi Flick, Barcelona head coach
INA FASSBENDER / AFP
Barcelona players take a walk on the Signal Iduna Park pitch ahead of kick-off.
William AllenPosted at: 14:17 EDT 15/04/2025
What the coaches said: Niko Kovac
What Dortmund need tonight:
“We have to be there from the first minute tomorrow and get the fans behind us. We’ll only get the momentum we need from them through willingness to run, performance and passion.”
Niko Kovac, Dortmund head coach
Improvement from the first leg:
“We’re aware of the situation. We want to show a completely different face tomorrow than in the first leg and win the match. Miraculous things happen all the time, but we also know that Barcelona haven’t lost a competitive match this year.”
Niko Kovac, Dortmund head coach
At a glance: Dortmund’s last five results
April 12: Bayern Munich 2-2 Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
April 9: Barcelona 4-0 Borussia Dortmund (UCL)
April 5: Freiburg 1-4 Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
March 30: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Mainz (Bundesliga)
March 15: RB Leipzig 2-0 Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
William AllenPosted at: 14:12 EDT 15/04/2025
What has Dortmund’s recent form been like?
Not only does Barça’s form suggest that a borderline miraculous comeback is not on the cards; so, too, does Dortmund’s.
Niko Kovac’s distinctly up-and-down team are eighth in the Bundesliga, having lost four in their last nine in the German top flight.
They’re a whopping 27 points off the top of the Bundesliga, and six points shy of the Champions League places.
In all competitions, Dortmund have registered just three wins in their last eight games.
William AllenPosted at: 14:10 EDT 15/04/2025
Four changes as hosts face mission: impossible
There are also a quartet of changes for Dortmund, who drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Emre Can is ruled out by injury, and Julian Ryerson, Julian Brandt and Salih Özcan also drop out of the team.
Karim Adeyemi, Felix Nmecha, Yan Couto and Ramy Bensebaini all come in.
William AllenPosted at: 14:08 EDT 15/04/2025
Confirmed Borussia Dortmund line-up
Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has also confirmed his team: Kobel, Süle, Anton, Bensebaini, Yan Couto, Nmecha, Gross, Svensson, Beier, Adeyemi, Guirassy.
William AllenPosted at: 14:01 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 14:03 EDT 15/04/2025
Martín in for Balde, Íñigo kept back
Hansi Flick makes four changes to the team that beat Leganés at the weekend: Pau Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, Frenkie De Jong and Gavi are all in, with Alejandro Balde, Íñigo Martínez, Éric García and Pedri making way.
Martín replaces the injured Balde, while Barça’s boss appears to have opted against risking losing Martínez for a potential semi-final first leg: he’s one yellow away from a Champions League ban.
A reminder that all outstanding yellows are wiped after the quarter-finals.
William AllenPosted at: 14:00 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 14:01 EDT 15/04/2025
Confirmed Barcelona line-up
Hansi Flick has named his XI at Signal Iduna Park: Szczesny, Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsí, Martín, De Jong, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha, Lewandowski.
William AllenPosted at: 13:54 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 13:56 EDT 15/04/2025
At a glance: Barcelona’s last five results
April 12: Leganés 0-1 Barcelona (LaLiga)
April 9: Barcelona 4-0 Borussia Dortmund (UCL)
April 5: Barcelona 1-1 Real Betis (LaLiga)
April 2: Atlético Madrid 0-1 Barcelona (Copa del Rey)
March 30: Barcelona 4-1 Girona (LaLiga)
William AllenPosted at: 13:53 EDT 15/04/2025
But Barcelona’s form suggests that won’t happen
After all, Barça are unbeaten in all competitions in 2025: their last defeat was a 2-1 LaLiga loss to Atlético Madrid on December 21
Since then, the Catalans have gone 24 games without losing – and have won 20 of them.
That run has not only taken Flick’s men to the brink of the Champions League semi-finals, but has also left them in pole position to win LaLiga. They currently lead the Spanish league table by four points.
What’s more, the Blaugrana are through to a Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid later this month.
William AllenPosted at: 13:49 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 13:52 EDT 15/04/2025
Barça also suffered UCL collapse last year
It’s not quite as egregious an example as the Liverpool and Roma ties… but it’s also worth noting that, in last season’s quarter-finals, Barça were 4-2 up on Paris Saint-Germain with half time approaching in the second leg.
Not helped, of course, by Ronald Araújo’s first-half red card, the Catalans ended up conceding four unanswered goals, to go out 6-4 on aggregate.
William AllenPosted at: 13:46 EDT 15/04/2025
When Barça blew big first-leg leads in the UCL
Despite winning the first leg 3-0 at the Camp Nou, Barça failed to make the 2019 final when Liverpool walloped the Culés 4-0 in the return at Anfield.
And that collapse, which was sealed by a now-legendary quick corner-kick by Trent Alexander-Arnold, followed a similar disaster the year before.
After a 4-1 opening-leg win over Roma in the 2017/18 quarter-finals, Barça managed to lose on away goals, going down 3-0 in the return in Italy.
William AllenPosted at: 13:42 EDT 15/04/2025
Can Barça end six-year UCL semi-final absence
Should Barça complete the job tonight, they’ll return to the Champions League last four for the first time in six years.
And as they prepare to defend a big first-leg lead today, that 2018/19 semi-final against Liverpool is something they’ll not want to be reminded of.
William AllenPosted at: 13:39 EDT 15/04/2025
Who will the winners play next in the UCL?
Either Inter Milan or another of Lewandowski’s old clubs, Bayern Munich, await in the semis.
Bayern visit Inter in the second leg of the clubs’ quarter-final tomorrow, and the Bavarians face an uphill battle to progress.
Goals by Lautaro Martínez and Davide Frattesi gave Inter a 2-1 first-leg win at the Allianz Arena, where Thomas Müller replied for the hosts.
William AllenPosted at: 13:30 EDT 15/04/2025
JOAN MONFORT / DIARIO AS
Barça bosh Borussia in first-leg thrashing
Six days ago in Catalonia, Barcelona put one foot in the semi-finals by absolutely overwhelming Dortmund at Montjuïc.
Raphinha opened the scoring for the Blaugrana midway through the first half, pinching Pau Cubarsí’s goal when he got a foot to it on the line. (And the Brazilian’s unnecessary involvement very nearly caused the goal to be ruled out for offside.)
After the break, former Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski netted two more for Barça, before Lamine Yamal completed the 4-0 rout with a sublime, toe-poked finish.
William AllenPosted at: 13:25 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 13:26 EDT 15/04/2025
What time does BVB vs Barça kick off in the U.S.?
Kick-off at Signal Iduna Park is at 9:00 p.m. local time. In the U.S., that translates into a 3:00 p.m ET/12 noon start.
I’ll bring you team news from Dortmund as soon as it’s in.
William AllenPosted at: 13:17 EDT 15/04/2025
Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona: welcome
Bona tarda, guten Abend.
In recent Champions League history, Barcelona have been known to chuck away a handsome first-leg lead. But surely, surely, there will be no repeat of Rome 2018 or Liverpool 2019 here, will there?
Having utterly dominated Dortmund last week, Hansi Flick’s men take a four-goal advantage into today’s quarter-final second leg in Germany – and are very close to a long-awaited return to the Champions League semi-finals.
William AllenPosted at: 13:14 EDT 15/04/2025 and modified at 13:34 EDT 15/04/2025
