Borussia Dortmund will have nothing to fear when they welcome Hansi Flick's Barcelona and ex-BVB striker Robert Lewandowski to Signal Iduna Park in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday (kick-off: 9pm CET).
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Champions League runners-up last season, Dortmund are flying again in Europe with 12 points from a possible 15 in the revamped league phase. That's the same tally as Barcelona, and one that's bettered only by Inter Milan (13) and Liverpool (15) ahead of the final round of fixtures of the calendar year. Another two will follow in January, with BVB well positioned to bypass the play-offs as one of the eight clubs to go straight into the last 16. Nuri Şahin's side haven't been quite as consistent domestically, but did draw with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich a little over a week ago. Jamie Gittens opened the scoring in Der Klassiker and was at it again in the 1-1 draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday. The English winger is in the form of his still young football career, with nine goals - including four in the Champions League - and four assists to show for his first 20 appearances of the campaign. Summer signings Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier complete a blossoming front three that have helped Die Schwarzgelben go 13 home matches unbeaten in all competitions. Felix Nmecha has also impressed in recent weeks, the Germany international unseating Emre Can at the heart of Şahin's midfield. Can's services may be required at the heart of defence, however, with Niklas Süle a major concern for Wednesday's hosts after he limped out of the weekend action with an ankle problem and Waldemar Anton also sidelined. Forward Karim Adeyemi is nearing a return following injury, meanwhile.
Barcelona and their complement of ex-Bundesliga faces need no introduction. Flick, who led Bayern to a historic sextuple of trophies in 2020, has steered the Catalans to the top of La Liga, helped by the goals of a certain Lewandowski. The evergreen Polish forward has scored 23 times in all competitions so far this term, continuing a double-digit tradition that began in his second season with Dortmund in 2011/12. Dani Olmo's also starting to deliver the same level of performances that made him such a hit across a five-year stint at RB Leipzig, following an injury-interrupted return to his native Spain. For all the headline-grabbing displays, though - Barca beat Bayern 4-1 on Matchday 3 - Flick's charges have been wobbling of late, losing two and winning only one of their last five league games. Saturday's 2-2 draw against mid-table Real Betis - a game they led twice - will be another source of encouragement for Dortmund as they look to steal a march on one of their nearest rivals to reach the knockouts, whilst consolidating their position as Germany's best-placed team in the 2024/25 Champions League standings.
Watch: Jamie Gittens - a star in the ascendant
Match stats
Dortmund have made their best start to a Champions League campaign since 2016/17 (also four wins in five). They won five of six in 1997/98, as defending champions.
BVB have hit 16 goals in their first five Champions League matches under Şahin. Historically, only Thomas Tuchel (18) and Flick (19) have overseen more goals across their opening quintet of games in the competition.
Guirassy's six goal involvements is the joint-most by any Dortmund player in their first five appearances in the competition, along with former BVB forwards Erling Haaland and Ousmane Dembélé.
Dortmund are chasing their first win against Barcelona (D2, L2).
Lewandowski scored 103 goals in 187 competitive appearances for Dortmund, before putting more goals past BVB than any club he's faced during an eight year-spell at Bayern (27 in 26 games).
Flick won the 2019/20 Champions League with Bayern as part of a record-equalling sextuple of trophies. Pep Guardiola's Barcelona are the only other club to have achieved the feat (2009).
Probable teams
Dortmund: Kobel - Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini - Sabitzer, Nmecha - Beier, Brandt (c), Gittens - Guirassy
Out: Anton (groin), Mané (muscular)
Doubtful: Adeyemi (hamstring), Süle (ankle)
Coach: Nuri Şahin
Barcelona: Peña - Koundé, Cubarsí, Martínez, Baldé - Casadó, Pedri - Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha (c) - Lewandowski
Out: Bernal (knee), Christensen (Achilles), Ter Stegen (knee)
Doubtful: Ansu (muscular), Araújo (hamstring)
Coach: Hansi Flick
LIVE blog!
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#### Lewa to face former sideBarcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is returning to Dortmund for the first time since leaving Bayern, the team to which 'Lewa' made the switch after leaving BVB in 2014. The Poland captain made his name playing for Die Schwarzgelben, with one particular highlight coming in a Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid in 2012/13, in which Lewandowski put on a dazzling display and scored four goals to set BVB on their way to that year's final.
© imago images / Mika Volkmann
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#### Gittens on fireThe Dortmund winger has scored in each of his last four games, playing a starring role in key fixtures against Freiburg, Dinamo Zagreb, Bayern and Gladbach. Defenders just cannot deal with the Englishman when he cuts in off the left and fires a right-footed shot towards goal.
© IMAGO/Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images
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#### Watch: Gladbach 1-1 Dortmund - highlightsDortmund were held to a score draw in their last Bundesliga outing against Gladbach. The result leaves them on 21 points and in sixth place after 13 games.
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#### Dortmund - the story so farLast season's finalists have cemented their reputation as Champions League specialists with four wins in five matches - leaving them level on points with Barcelona in fourth. Their opponents are also the only team to have scored more than Dortmund's 16 goals so far in the group stage. Dortmund won 3-0 at Dinamo Zagreb last time around.
© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images#### Barcelona - the story so far
Hansi Flick has led Barcelona to a strong start in the first Champions League campaign under his tenure. Barca have won their last four games in the competition, including the 4-1 win over his former club, Bayern Munich, in October. They are third in the table on 12 points.#### Welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Borussia Dortmund's sixth UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase at home to Barcelona on Wednesday.
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