Barcelona have not had much success in the Champions League in recent years, but they now have a golden chance to reach the semi-finals. Hansi Flick’s side are strong favourites to win this one.
Borussia Dortmund are enduring a difficult campaign, but they reached the final last year and should not be written off. Which way will the first leg go?
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund best bets
- Barcelona to win the first half – 4/5 with SBK
- Under 3.5 goals – 4/6 with BetMGM
- Robert Lewandowski to score any time – 10/11 with Tote
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund odds
Find the latest match odds for Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund. All odds are provided by our best football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund predictions
Barcelona’s first Champions League triumph arrived relatively late on. To be precise, it was in the final edition of the old European Cup in 1992, as Johan Cruyff’s side beat Sampdoria at Wembley.
Their most recent success in this competition came in 2015 with that famous front three of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. In between those two wins they also emerged victorious in 2006, 2009 and 2011.
Only Real Madrid, AC Milan, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have lifted the famous trophy more times than Barcelona. But whereas Liverpool’s six wins span a 42-year period and Bayern’s first and last triumphs have a gap of 46 years, Barcelona’s five victories to date were squeezed into just 23 years.
Needless to say, the Catalans are desperate to get back on top again. Not only have they failed to be crowned kings of the continent in a decade, they have only reached one semi-final in that time.
Barcelona even suffered the ignominy of exiting Europe’s main event in the group stage in back-to-back seasons recently. Most painfully of all, they had to watch their arch-rivals Madrid achieve continental glory in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024.
Could this be the year that Barca join Liverpool and Bayern on six wins? The bookies reckon they have a good chance of going all the way, pricing them as 7/2 favourites ahead of the quarter-finals.
That is in large part because Barcelona are perceived to be on the easier side of the draw. Borussia Dortmund, their opponents in the last eight, are probably the weakest team left in the tournament. Meanwhile, Barcelona cannot face either Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain before the final.
It would be a mistake, however, for the Blaugrana to get ahead of themselves. Being favourites brings its own sort of pressure, especially as this team is relatively inexperienced in the latter stages of the Champions League.
Despite drawing 1-1 with Real Betis at the weekend, Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga following Madrid’s shock loss to Valencia. Flick’s charges now possess a four-point buffer as they prepare to turn their attention back to Europe.
As for Dortmund, they have nothing to lose. Niko Kovac, you feel, will not mind one bit that his team are massive underdogs.
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund betting tips
Barcelona will be looking to establish a solid first-leg advantage when they host Borussia Dortmund.
Barcelona to win the first half
Borussia Dortmund reached the final of the Champions League last term. They even gave Real Madrid a tough game before succumbing to a 2-0 loss.
Despite their European exploits, Dortmund finished fifth in the Bundesliga. Fast forward to today and they are only just inside the top half of their domestic league.
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Barcelona should ultimately prove too strong here. They are one of the best teams in Europe and it is hard to see how Dortmund will be able to cope, especially away from home.
Flick’s team have the best first-half record in La Liga, having been ahead at the interval in half of their 30 games.
Their record in home games is even better: 10 leads in 15 games with 45 minutes on the clock. Dortmund could be behind at the break.
Go for Barcelona to win the first half at 4/5 with SBK
Under 3.5 goals
It is tempting to predict a high-scoring encounter when these two teams meet for the first leg.
Barcelona are averaging 3.2 goals per game by themselves in the Champions League this season. And the name ‘Borussia Dortmund’ is not exactly synonymous with disciplined, diligent defensive displays.
Yet although these two teams shared five goals in the league phase (a 3-2 away win for Barca), Wednesday’s match should be much tighter.
The stakes are higher now we have reached the knockout phase and Dortmund have tightened up under Kovac.
Back under 3.5 goals at 4/6 with BetMGM
Robert Lewandowski to score any time
Robert Lewandowski has scored more goals in this competition than anyone but Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The Poland international is a bona fide Champions League legend and he will be desperate to add another winner’s medal to his collection.
Lewandowski won the tournament with Bayern Munich in 2020, but that is the only time to date that he has experienced European glory.
Up against his former club, the veteran striker will be particularly keen to add to his tally on Wednesday.
Lewandowski has scored nine times in the Champions League this term and we like his chances of reaching double figures in this match.
Tip Robert Lewandowski to score any time at 10/11 with Tote
How to watch Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund
- Location: Estadio Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain.
- Date and time: Wednesday 9th April, 8pm.
- How to watch: TNT Sports 2.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
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About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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