Act like you’ve been there before.
Unfortunately, most of the Barcelona players have not gotten this far in the Champions League, and it showed.
Two important figures, however, have. Hansi Flick and Robert Lewandowski. This game lacked leadership. The message was not delivered to the team that you take nothing for granted in the Champions League. Just look at the Barcelona history books, in both directions, anything can happen.
The easiest, and probably best thing to do, is for Hansi Flick to raise his hand and take the blame, although there is plenty to go around for the players as well.
To me, and many other observers I’m sure, it’s crazy what he’s doing to Lamine Yamal. There was absolutely no reason he should have started this game, given that Flick insisted on starting him against Leganes on the weekend.
It’s good that Pedri got rest, but Barcelona would have been better served if they had started the midfielder, rather than the star forward. They could have at least had some control, and the ability to produce some attacks. At half-time, instead, the stat line read Dortmund 10 shots, 7 on target, while Barcelona had 1 shot, with 0 on target.
Was Lamine Yamal exhausted or uninterested? An argument can be had either way.
We can be generous, and again, put it on the coach. The kid needs a break. You’re running him into the ground. That way, Lamine can at least get a mulligan.
In reality, however, someone has to get in Lamine’s head, and make him understand that the optics didn’t look good, and honestly, it’s not the first time we’ve seen him disappear in important matches. Lamine plays in front of Jules Kounde, another player who desperately needs a rest. So when Lamine refuses to press, or track back, or give anything offensively, it’s Kounde, and the backline who plays in a high line writ large, who he’s hurting the most.
Lamine should understand that he’s not Messi, and he hasn’t earned the right to walk during games. He’s achieved nothing at Barcelona yet. These Champions League opportunities are precious, and Barcelona has been struggling massively the past five years to get themselves back into a competitive position. On these European nights, you show up.
If you need an example, look at Raphinha. The Brazilian has been far from his best since the international break, but even on Tuesday night, he made the effort to help Gerard Martín. He’s a superstar not afraid to do the grunt work. A true pro.
Against the remaining competition in the Champions League, Barcelona will not only lose if they play this way, they will embarrass themselves. And as Barca fans, we’ve experienced too much of that already over the past decade.
This season has been magical, but people will only remember how it ends.
Bad habits now will certainly also affect their prospects in La Liga and the Copa del Rey final, in addition to the Champions League.
Barcelona isn’t just going for trophies, they’re going for it against their bitter enemy in Real Madrid in every single one of them. This is when the evil empire turns up. You can leave nothing to chance.
So once again the debate will be had. When the game is on the line, and silverware is up for grabs, do you insist on playing pretty, or do you adjust and go with pragmatism?
That’s a question for Hansi Flick to answer.
He certainly wants his team to entertain and play the game according to their identity, but against Dortmund, they were neither attractive nor practical.
Now, their incredible undefeated streak in 2025 is gone. It would have been better if they went down while playing their own game, and if they were simply defeated by a better team on the day. Instead, they beat themselves.
The last two matches, the only goals this high octane attacking team could conjure up were own goals by their opponent.
On Saturday, Celta Vigo comes to town, and Barcelona needs to give an emphatic response. It’s not about the big score line, necessarily, but rather showing the requisite desire and intensity to prove, to themselves more than anyone, that they understand the stakes.
This performance against Dortmund was unacceptable in every way. It has to be a wake up call.
We’ll know soon enough. There’s no slowing down at this stage in the campaign.
