Barcelona cast a long shadow in the Champions League with many feeling the side that triumphed in 2009 and 2011 (beating Manchester United in the final on both occasions) was perhaps the greatest club football team in the sport’s history. It has been a different story in more recent years, however, with the club rarely getting beyond the quarter-finals. Indeed, this summer will mark a decade since the European heavyweights won this competition.
On Wednesday, Barcelona travel to face Borussia Dortmund, who have won this trophy exactly once, back in 1997. Dortmund were impressive in last summer’s final, but ultimately, Real Madrid did what Real Madrid do and emerged victorious to secure an astonishing 15th European Cup.
Still, that was no mere aberration and the German team have started this year’s campaign where they left off last term and currently sit fourth in the revamped Champions League table, level on points with Barcelona and just three points behind table-toppers Liverpool. Both sides are in with a serious chance of qualifying for the round of 16 without needing to partake in a dreaded play-off.
The big story here will be the return to Dortmund of Robert Lewandowski, a decade after leaving the club at which he made his name. The bad news for the hosts is that they are currently enduring something of a crisis in the centre of defence, with injuries ruling out both Niklas Sule and Waldemar Anton. They are so low on options that Emre Can may be forced to start at centre-back. This is not ideal as the Germans chase their first win against Barcelona, not least because the injury crisis has precipitated a collapse in form resulting in just one win from their last five matches.
Hansi Flick is enjoying an excellent start to life in Barcelona. His team are top of the table domestically and secured stunning victories over arch rivals Real Madrid and his former club Bayern Munich in October. He will undoubtedly be hoping to repeat the trick against Dortmund.
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Borussia Dortmond vs Barcelona odds
Venue: Westfalenstadion — Dortmund, Germany
Time: 8 p.m. GMT (3 p.m. ET), Wednesday
Streaming: Fubo (US only; Get access | Save $30)
Form guide
Borussia Dortmund: 4-1-0 in UCL, 13 points
Last five (all competitions): D-D-W-W-L
Barcelona: 4-1-0 in UCL, 13 points
Last five (all competitions): D-W-L-W-D
Match prediction
Dortmund 1-2 Barcelona
This game comes at the perfect moment for the visitors. They are in fine form while their opponents suffer through an injury crisis. Flick will be licking his lips at the prospect of returning to Germany and emerging with all three points. It would be the ideal end to an excellent first half of the season in Europe for Barcelona as they attempt to once again become a force to be reckoned with.
More Champions League coverage
Champions League projections: 16% chance of Liverpool champions, Man City at 8%
Juventus, Man City and the far-reaching impact of a scandal that resulted in relegation
Why youth won’t win you the Champions League
(Photo of Robert Lewandowski: Fran Santiago / Getty Images)
