The second leg of the 2024/25 Champions League quarter-final between Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and Barcelona (Spain) will take place on April 15 at Signal Iduna Park. The first match ended 4-0 in favor of Barcelona. Borussia Dortmund vs. Barcelona: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Borussia Dortmund
The Germans suffered a crushing 0-4 defeat in the first encounter. This was Dortmund's first loss in six Champions League matches (3 wins, 2 draws), and it was only the second time they failed to score in the current tournament. To advance to the next round, the club needs to win by at least five goals. If the Germans win by exactly 4 goals, extra time will be played.
- At least three goals have been scored in 7 of Borussia's last 9 Champions League matches.
- At home in this tournament, Dortmund has not lost in 16 of their last 17 matches (10 wins, 6 draws).
- In 6 of their last 7 home games in the Champions League, Borussia has not conceded more than one goal.
Predicted lineup for Borussia Dortmund (3-5-2)
Gregor Kobel – Julian Ryerson, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini – Karim Adeyemi, Pascal Gross, Julian Brandt, Carney Chukwuemeka, Emre Can – Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier.
Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer and defender Nico Schlotterbeck are injured.
Barcelona
The victory in the first leg was Barcelona's ninth in the current tournament. Notably, in five matches during this stretch, the team scored at least four goals. In the return match, the Spaniards can afford to lose by three goals. However, Barcelona is on a 10-match unbeaten streak in the Champions League, and the last time they lost by at least four goals in this competition was in 2020.
- In 9 of their last 10 matches in this tournament, the Catalans scored first.
- The team has conceded at least two goals in 5 of their last 6 away matches in the Champions League.
- Barcelona has won 5 of their last 6 away matches in the Champions League.
Predicted lineup for Barcelona (4-3-3)
Wojciech Szczesny – Jules Kounde, Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo – Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi – Lamine Yamal, Raphinha Dias, Robert Lewandowski.
The team's injury list includes goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, midfielders Marc Bernal, Marc Casado, and Dani Olmo.
Referee
Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
Matches – 11 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 42;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.8;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 36%.
Match Prediction: Borussia Dortmund vs. Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund's Champions League campaign seems to be nearing its end. Overturning a four-goal deficit is inherently difficult, and doing so against this Barcelona side is nearly impossible. In the first match, the Catalans showcased the full power of their attack. However, even after such a convincing victory, the Spaniards are unlikely to be cautious in the return leg. Hans Flick's team is in excellent form and will not lower the bar they have set.
Borussia will undoubtedly try to redeem themselves in the eyes of their fans. Niko Kovac's side will attack and leave open spaces, which is extremely dangerous against Barcelona. The Catalans have scored at least two goals in 9 of their last 10 Champions League matches. As a result, the Spanish side currently boasts two of the top scorers in the 2024/25 Champions League, with Raphinha Dias already matching Lionel Messi's club record for points in a single tournament, while Robert Lewandowski has a special affinity for his former team, having scored 29 goals in 28 matches against Dortmund.
I believe the Catalans will continue their scoring exploits. My prediction: Barcelona Individual Total Over 1.5
