In a completely crazy match, FC Barcelona managed to win on Wednesday evening on the pitch of Borussia Dortmund 3 to 2 and took the opportunity to seize 2nd place in the Champions League standings.
On the evening of the 6th day, Hansi Flick’s players have 15 points, three less than the Liverpool Reds (18), and are taking a very important step towards a place in the top 8 of the C1 at the end of the group stage, synonymous with direct qualification for the round of 16 and the advantage of receiving the return match.
In this promising encounter, everything was decided in the second half, after the first 45 minutes during which the two teams observed each other, each having its phase of domination. Returning from the locker room, the Barcelona team quickly took control of the match in the 53rd minute thanks to their captain Raphinha. Starting on the edge of offside and covered by Ramy Bensebaini, Raphinha gave Gregor Kobel no chance to score his 6th goal of the competition, after a hat-trick against Bayern.
But Nuri Sahin’s men immediately reacted four minutes later. On a cross from Julien Duranville, Pau Cubarsi pushed Serhou Guirassy in the penalty area and the referee of the match, the French François Letexier logically indicated the penalty spot. Guirassy did himself justice and equalized for Borussia Dortmund on the hour mark.
Schlotterbeck misses the equalizer
A quarter of an hour later, after yet another combination on the right side of Barça between Lamine Yamal and Jules Koundé, the French right side crossed for Fermin Lopez. Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel pushed back the slightly deflected restart, and Ferran Torres, who came into play a few minutes earlier, in ambush and covered by the Dortmund defense, gave the Catalans the advantage back (75th).
Dortmund once again immediately got back on track thanks to Serhou Guirassy, taking advantage of a risky exit from Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki, after a deep ball for Pascal Gross. During an action in the Barcelona camp, Gross missed his pass in the 85th minute and was immediately punished on the Barça counter, concluded again by Ferran Torres.
At the end of added time, Dortmund had the opportunity to equalize, but Nico Schlotterbeck failed to get his header on target and landed badly, injuring his right foot. “We had a very good match, in the second half we were better with the ball, but we were a little naive. It happens, but it’s a shame because we had a good match”, commented Gregor Kobel on the microphone of the broadcaster DAZN.
Asked Tuesday about Robert Lewandowski returning to the Westfalenstadion, Sahin did not want to focus on the Polish center forward given the offensive quality of the Barcelona squad. And it was ultimately Ferran Torres, who came on in place of Lewy, who turned this spectacular encounter around. As very often, Hansi Flick relied on the young nuggets of Spanish football from Massia, Barça’s training center, with Marc Casado (21 years old), Pau Cubarsi (17 years old), Lamine Yamal (17 years old) . But the starting eleven aligned by Nuri Sahin had nothing to envy of Barça’s youth, with an offensive animation composed of Julien Duranville (18 years old), Jamie Gittens (20 years old).
Nico Schlotterbeck Borussia Dortmund FC Barcelona
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