Barcelona took a giant leap towards the Champions League round of 16 after beating Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on Wednesday night.
The contest at Signal Iduna Park burst into life in the second-half after a goalless opening period. Barca twice surrendered advantages with Serhou Guirassy scoring a brace, but Ferran Torres ensured the visitors snatched all three points by notching two goals of his own.
Hansi Flick's side are now up to second in the league phase table, while Dortmund have dropped out of the top eight.
How the match unfolded
We've seen Europe's aristocracy collapse under the lights at Signal Iduna Park, and the Yellow Wall was fervent in anticipation for Barcelona's visit here.
The La Liga leaders, however, weren't shackled by the atmosphere and immediately settled into the contest. Dani Olmo wreaked havoc between the lines early on, facilitating a couple of early chances from crossing situations which Barca failed to make the most of. Raphinha likely would've been called offside had he converted Lamine Yamal's utterly disgusting trivela cross.
After an excellent opening, Dortmund's compactness started to frustrate Flick's side, who struggled to time their passes in behind and were occasionally hesitant to test the hosts' block.
Dortmund were passive but compact, with an uninspiring opening 30 minutes followed up by a bright end to the first half. Marcel Sabitzer spurned a great chance from Julien Duranville's cut-back, while Guirassy drew a point-blank save from Inaki Pena before he was flagged offside after meeting Giovanni Reyna's cross.
The hosts were doubtlessly more enterprising after the restart, and that contributed to the thrills and spills that ensued. Barca twice looked like they'd take full control of the contest, but Dortmund pegged them back. Raphinha and Ferran Torres scored either side of a Guirassy penalty before the BVB striker scored his second of the game to draw Sahin's side level for a second time.
With Flick's substitutions disrupting Barca's control, Dortmund seemed the more likely to secure a memorable victory. However, BVB defended woefully from their own corner in the final ten minutes, allowing Barca to breakaway at speed and access Ferran in behind.
The chance initially seemed to escape the Spaniard, but he settled his feet inside the area and finished superbly past Kobel to hand Barca a 3-2 lead. While a sixth goal couldn't have been ruled out given the frantic nature of the second-half, the visitors held out for a big Champions League triumph.
Check out the player ratings for Bourssia Dortmund vs Barcelona here.
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League phase 6Borussia Dortmund - FC Barcelona
Raphinha opened the scoring in Dortmund / ANP/GettyImages
There have been some supreme performers for Barcelona this season, but none more impressive than Raphinha. The former Leeds United star struggled to dazzle during his first two years at the club, but he's now completely fulfilling his 'childhood dream'.
Raphinha donned the captain's armband again, although he seemed to grasp it in his left hand for parts of the contest. Nevertheless, the Catalan flag was strapped tight to his upper arm as he ran in behind the Dortmund backline and opened the scoring having been smartly fed by Dani Olmo.
The Brazilian could've easily laid the ball on a plate for Lamine Yamal to tap home, but there was only one thing on his mind as he entered the Dortmund box. His left-footed finish was emphatic as he recorded his sixth Champions League goal of the campaign in as many games.
27 goal contributions in a mere 22 outings this term. This is Raphinha's team.
Ferran Torres
Ferran Torres was the match-winner off the bench / Pedro Salado/GettyImages
There have been some accusations of Barcelona's bench failing to fire this season, with Flick settling upon a starting XI which is beginning to show some wear and tear.
The German opted for a triple change with 20 minutes remaining in Dortmund, and it was one of these entrants who won the game for the visitors.
Ferran is proving himself as a handy alternative to Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski. He's relatively comfortable dropping in or playing wide, but is at his most effective when penetrating in behind.
Ferran combined with fellow substitute Fermin Lopez for his first goal, tapping home from close range after Fermin's shot was saved. His second, teed up by Yamal, was a superb finish - one worthy of winning any game.
Barca perhaps surrendered more control in the final 20 minutes, but Flick will take great satisfaction in knowing that his changes help tilt the contest in his team's favour.
Alejandro Balde, Julien Duranville
The shifty 18-year-old gave Alejandro Balde something to think about / Pedro Salado/GettyImages
There's a promising Dortmund generation, spearheaded by Jamie Gittens, coming through, and Sahin handed a first Champions League start to 18-year-old Duranville on Wednesday night.
The winger has featured sporadically for BVB this season having suffered a hamstring injury in the autumn, but his performance against Barca highlighted a player who may well have a big role to play for Sahin's side moving forward.
Duranville was fearless attacking Alejandro Balde one-on-one. He has a low centre of gravity and a tremendous burst of pace which renders his dribbling style explosive. Balde was never sure what exactly Duranville was up to when the pair faced off down Dortmund's right. The winger is primarily left-footed, but he's comfortable with his right and capable of beating his man on the outside.
Duranville created the best chance of the first half after skipping past Balde and setting up Sabitzer, but the Austrian international blazed over. It was a sequence which exemplified the winger's threat, and although his second half was quieter, the Yellow Wall must've been enamoured with the teenager's glimpses.
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