In a UEFA Champions League Group Stage match on December 12, Barcelona traveled to face Borussia Dortmund at their iconic stadium. Despite Barcelona’s decent league record of 12 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses (leading La Liga), their recent form had been shaky, with only one win in the last five matches. In the Champions League, however, they had won 4 out of their first 5 group stage games before this clash.
Barcelona employed a 4-2-3-1 formation:
Forwards: Robert Lewandowski led the attack.
Midfielders: Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Lamine Yamal formed the attacking trio, with Pedri and Casado as the double pivot.
Defenders: Balde, Martinez, Koubasi, and Koundé started as the back four.
Goalkeeper: Peña was the starting keeper.
Substitutes: Ferran Torres, Fermín, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Araujo.
First Half: Both teams struggled with quality shots, leading to a goalless half.
Second Half:
The match turned dramatic as disallowed goals and continuous strikes defined the game.
Raphinha broke the deadlock, giving Barcelona the lead.
Dortmund’s Guirassy equalized with a penalty.
Ferran Torres, brought on as a substitute, scored to restore Barcelona’s lead.
Guirassy equalized again, but Torres sealed the game with an 85th-minute winner.
Final Score: Barcelona 3–2 Dortmund
Match Stats
Barcelona: 55% possession, 13 shots (8 on target), 3 goals.Dortmund: 12 shots (2 on target), 2 goals.Dortmund’s goalkeeper, Kobel, made five saves but couldn’t prevent defeat. This loss ended Dortmund’s 3-year undefeated streak in UEFA Champions League home games.
Barcelona: 55% possession, 13 shots (8 on target), 3 goals.
Dortmund: 12 shots (2 on target), 2 goals.
Dortmund’s goalkeeper, Kobel, made five saves but couldn’t prevent defeat. This loss ended Dortmund’s 3-year undefeated streak in UEFA Champions League home games.
Dortmund: Finished their group stage campaign with 12 points (4 wins, 2 losses), ranking 9th overall.
Barcelona: After losing their opening group stage match to Monaco (1-2 with 10 men), Barcelona rebounded to win five consecutive games. This is their first such streak in the Champions League since 2020.
With this win, Barcelona moved to 2nd place in the Champions League standings, surpassing Arsenal, and are just 3 points behind leaders Liverpool.
