The treble. That is the word that resonates most at Can Barça. That is the objective and it seems increasingly closer given the performance of Hansi Flick’s team. The culés have had an almost perfect 2025 with a balance of 18 victories and 4 draws that have lifted them to the top of LaLiga and to the final of the Copa del Rey where they will face Real Madrid, their immediate pursuer in the domestic competition 4 points below them.
Now it’s time to focus on the Champions League where they will face Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the quarter-finals in Montjuic this Wednesday at 9 p.m. Barça want to take advantage of what is, a priori, a favorable draw to reach the final on May 31st in Munich.
Barça and Borussia will face each other in the quarterfinals in a very special duel for Hansi Flick and Niko Kovač, who shared the Bayern bench six years ago. When the now Dortmund coach was dismissed after a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Eintracht, the Bavarian team turned to the now Barça coach to take the reins.
This season, Borussia Dortmund and Barça have already met. Specifically, their paths crossed on matchday six of the preliminary group stage. Hansi Flick’s side emerged victorious from that match with a narrow 3-2 win at Signal Iduna Park thanks to goals from Raphinha and Ferran Torres, who scored twice. Serhou Guirassy was the scorer for the home side.
Hansi Flick brings back some players
With Dani Olmo still out and Iñigo Martínez likely to return to defense, there is little doubt about the Barcelona starting XI for the first leg of the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund. The injury casualties in the Barça squad are as follows: Marc Bernal (knee), Ter Stegen (lack of fitness), Casadó (ligament), Olmo (adductor).
Possible Barça XI
Goalkeeper: Szczesny
Defenders: Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde
Midfielders: De Jong, Pedri, Fermín
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Four key absences for Dortmund
The German team will travel to Barcelona with important absences and coach Niko Kovac will have to look for alternatives for the match in Montjuïc. Gross (suspended), Mane (muscle), Sabitzer (knee), Wätjen (foot), Schlotterbeck (knee) will not be there.
Possible Borussia XI
Goalkeeper: Kobel
Defenders: Ryerson, Emre Can, Anton, Bensebaini
Midfielders: Nmecha, Chukwuemeka
Forwards: Adeyemi, Brandt, Beier; Guirassy