Barcelona emerged victorious in a pulsating 3-2 clash against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with all five goals erupting in a thrilling second-half.
While Lamine Yamal shone brightly, others, including Jamie Gittens and Robert Lewandowski, failed to make a significant impact.
The match started with high intensity, as Barcelona came close to scoring twice within the opening five minutes.
Low crosses zipped across Dortmund’s penalty area, narrowly missing their target. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was undoubtedly relieved as those dangerous deliveries flashed wide.
Yamal, showcasing his immense talent, delivered a stunning ball across the goal with the outside of his boot.
However, Raphinha was unable to convert the opportunity. The young star remained a persistent threat, testing Kobel with a couple of goal-bound efforts and making his intentions clear.
Dortmund had their share of chances too. Marcel Sabitzer failed to find the net following impressive play by the dynamic Julien Duranville, while Giovanni Reyna’s looping shot soared over the bar.
Despite the occasional sparks of brilliance, the first half concluded without any decisive moments.
The second half kicked off with Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy finding the back of the net, only to be flagged offside for the second time in the match.
Barcelona capitalized shortly after, with Raphinha racing onto a through ball after Remy Bensebaini inadvertently kept him onside. Raphinha’s finish was clinical, continuing his excellent season.
Dortmund quickly leveled the score after Pau Cubarsi conceded a penalty by nudging Guirassy in the box.
Guirassy stepped up and made no mistake, converting the spot kick with power to redeem his earlier misses.
Hansi Flick’s substitutions paid dividends as Ferran Torres capitalized on a rebound from Kobel’s save, smashing the ball into the net from close range.
Yet Dortmund struck back again, with Pascal Groß setting up Guirassy to equalize after exploiting Barcelona’s high defensive line.
In the final act of the night, Barcelona delivered a stunning counterattack following a Dortmund corner.
Yamal played a decisive pass to Torres, who drilled his second goal past Kobel. The late strike sealed a frantic second half and ensured the Catalan side left with all three points.
