Barcelona decimate Borussia Dortmund in Champions League quarterfinal first leg

Barcelona got a foot inside the semifinals of the Champions League after their commanding 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday.
The Barca dominance was led by Robert Lewandowski's double strike, which has put the Spanish giants on the verge of their first semifinal appearance in the tournament since 2019
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The victory also extended Barca's unbeaten run to 23 matches.

The five-time champions initiated the scoring through the in-form Raphinha, before Lewandowski reached his remarkable 40-goal milestone for the season with two clinical finishes.
Young sensation Lamine Yamal showcased an exceptional performance throughout the match, skilfully adding Barcelona's fourth goal as Dortmund struggled to contain the onslaught.
Barcelona, whose last Champions League triumph came in 2015, will travel to Germany next Tuesday, aiming to secure a semi-final place against either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich.

Barcelona, the current leaders of La Liga, dominated early and broke the deadlock after 25 minutes. A precise free-kick from Lopez found Inigo Martinez at the far post, who directed it to Pau Cubarsi, setting up a goal-bound attempt. Raphinha, the competition's leading marksman, ensured the ball crossed the line by sliding in to claim his 12th goal, though Cubarsi's initial shot was already destined for the net.
The Brazilian winger waited anxiously as VAR officials verified he was not offside.
Before half-time, Serhou Guirassy missed two clear opportunities to equalise for the away side.
Niko Kovac's Dortmund faced consequences for Guirassy's missed opportunities when Lewandowski scored his 10th goal of the tournament in the early stages of the second half.

Three minutes after the break, Yamal delivered a cross to Raphinha, who directed a header towards Lewandowski at the far post, allowing him to score from close range beneath the crossbar.
Barcelona continued their pursuit of a decisive third goal, with Lopez hitting the post and narrowly missing the target. The breakthrough arrived in the 66th minute when Lopez assisted Lewandowski, who found the net with a powerful shot at the near post.
The former Dortmund forward's strike marked his 29th goal in 28 matches against his previous club, while also bringing his Barcelona tally to 99 since his arrival in 2022.

Yamal, who consistently troubled Dortmund's defence throughout the match, rightfully scored after the visitors left significant gaps, allowing Raphinha to set him up for a clear shot on goal.
The sole concern for Barcelona emerged when Yamal requested a substitution near the end, though he appeared cheerful while receiving applause from the crowd.
Barcelona's pursuit of four trophies this season appears promising, given their impressive display in this match.