rcelona's Spanish forward #07 Ferran Torres (R) celebrates scoring the team's second goal next to Borussia Dortmund's Brazilian defender #02 Yan Couto during the UEFA Champions League football match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona in Dortmund,
Image credit: Getty Images
Ferran Torres bagged a brace from the bench as Barcelona went second in the UEFA Champions League standings with an entertaining 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund.
After a tentative opening period from either side, the game burst into life eight minutes after the interval as Barcelona captain Raphinha opened the scoring with a ruthless finish inside the area.
The hosts were quickly level as Serhou Guirassy converted from the spot after being nudged to the ground by young Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi.
Just four minutes after coming on, Torres restored the lead for Hansi Flick's side as he converted from close range after Gregor Kobel parried the effort of fellow substitute Fermin Lopez.
Nuri Sahin's men were back on level terms just three minutes later as Dortmund beat the visitors' offside trap and Pascal Gross squared the ball around Inaki Pena for Guirassy to double his tally.
Though it was the Catalan side who had the last laugh as Torres' clinical finish rounded off a lightning-quick counter-attack following a mis-placed pass from Gross to clinch all three points.
Barcelona move up to second with the victory, two points clear of the host of teams on 13 points in the rest of the automatic qualification spots.
Up next for the 2015 champions is a trip to Benfica before their final league phase fixture at home to Atalanta.
Dortmund remain just one place outside of the top eight on 12 points, and will look for positive results in their remaining ties with Bologna and Shakhtar Dontesk to avoid the play-offs.
The two sides top the scoring charts in this year's competition with Barcelona leading the way on 21 goals after just six fixtures.
Talking Point - Subs significant in end-to-end second half
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After a cagey opening period of few chances, the game sparked into life in the second half, particularly in the final half hour, and much of this was down to the changes from either side.
For Dortmund, the introduction of Gross saw a player enter the field who could pick his head up and threaten Barcelona’s high line with his range of passing.
Having said that, it was the German’s forward run to get on the end of a pass that created the home side’s second.
As for Barcelona, Lopez and Torres provided the cutting edge which they had lacked for much of the first half with the latter looking to exploit the hosts’ high line.
It was Lopez’s effort that Torres rebounded home for the visitors’ second of the evening, while it was Lopez who led the counter for their all-important third, which Torres provided the ruthless finish for.
Ironically, it was Gross' sloppy pass from Dortmund's own corner that led to the chance of a Barcelona breakaway.
Player of the Match - Lamine Yamal
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Despite Torres' obvious impact on proceedings, Lamine Yamal was the outstanding player throughout this fixture.
He looked the most likely to make the breakthrough in the opening period while his sublime cross with the outside of his foot should have been buried by Raphinha from a matter of yards out before the break.
The winger continued to torment full-back Ramy Bensebaini, who should have picked up a second yellow for a foul on the winger, and it was his clever through-ball which set up Torres for the winner.
Player Ratings
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**Borussia Dortmund:** Kobel 6; Ryerson 6, Can 6, Schlotterbeck 7, Bensebaini 5; Sabitzer 6, Nmecha 7; Duranville 7, Reyna 6, Gittens 5; Guirassy 7. **Subs**: Couto 6, Gross 6, Malen 5.
**Barcelona:** Pena 6; Kounde 7, Cubarsi 5, Martinez 6, Balde 6; Pedri 6, Casado 6, Olmo 7; Yamal 8\*, Lewandowski 5, Raphinha 7. **Subs**: De Jong 6, Lopez 7, Torres 8, Victor N/A, Garcia N/A.
Key Moments
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**52' - GOAL! BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0-1 BARCELONA (RAPHINHA):** Olmo turns nicely in midfield before driving at the defence and poking a pass in behind for Raphinha. The Barcelona captain takes it on into the left of the area before dispatching with his left foot into the bottom right corner.
**60' - GOAL! BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-1 BARCELONA (GUIRASSY):** Guirassy, who won the penalty, steps up to take it and slots home into the bottom left corner. Pena dived the right way but it was tucked well in the corner, giving the keeper no chance.
**75' - GOAL! BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-2 BARCELONA (TORRES):** Yamal plays a nice ball for the underlapping Kounde whose cross from the right is volleyed on target with a hooked effort by Lopez. Kobel saves but parries to the feet of Torres who taps home from a matter of yards out.
**78' - GOAL! BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-2 BARCELONA (GUIRASSY):** As Barcelona look to play the offside trap, Gross is played through on goal by Couto. As Pena comes flying out of his box, the German gets there first to square it for Guirassy who has an empty net to tap home into.
**85' - GOAL! BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-3 BARCELONA (TORRES):** Following Dortmund's corner, Gross gives it away with a sloppy pass and Barcelona can break through Lopez. He finds Yamal to his right and the winger slips Torres into the right of the box. His first touch is poor but his second is brilliant as he rifles it into the bottom left corner.
Key Stat
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