Barcelona Hosts Borussia Dortmund in Champions League Clash: Key Players and Matchup Insights

On Wednesday, April 9, Barcelona will host Borussia Dortmund in a crucial UEFA Champions League clash at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two European heavyweights, with Barcelona currently leading La Liga and Dortmund competing in the Bundesliga.

Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund predicted lineups

As of the upcoming match, Barcelona is performing exceptionally well in La Liga, sitting firmly atop the league table. In contrast, Borussia Dortmund finds themselves in eighth place in the Bundesliga. However, the varying league positions should not be taken as an indicator of the match outcome, as knockout competitions can often level the playing field.

Despite Dortmund's league position, the team has gained valuable experience from reaching the Champions League final last season. On the other hand, Barcelona has been in remarkable form, boasting a formidable attack led by Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha. With such a talented trio at the forefront, containing Barcelona's offense will be a significant challenge for Dortmund.

Barcelona's attacking prowess is complemented by an array of players capable of scoring at any moment, making the task of containing their offense even more daunting for Dortmund. Defensively, Hansi Flick's team may concede opportunities, but if Dortmund attempts to match Barcelona's pace, they may find it challenging to keep up, as Barcelona thrives in open matches.

Potential Game-Changer: Maximilian Beier

Maximilian Beier, a 22-year-old player, could prove to be the x-factor for Borussia Dortmund. His impressive performance in the last two matches, contributing two goals and two assists, along with a total of eight goals and five assists in all competitions this season, makes him a player to watch out for. Beier's ability to influence the game could potentially swing the match in Dortmund's favor.

Serhou Guirassy is another key player for Dortmund, leading the line with an impressive tally of 10 goals in the competition, second only to Raphinha. However, Beier's position on the wing could open up space for him to exploit, and if he can capitalize on this opportunity, he could significantly impact the outcome of the match.

However, Dortmund's success will rely not only on their ability to score but also on their capacity to contain Barcelona's lethal attack, led by Raphinha and Lewandowski, who have collectively scored 20 goals in Champions League play this season. Dortmund's Emre Can will play a crucial role in stabilizing the defense, as they will face numerous shots from Barcelona. At the same time, Dortmund will seek to capitalize on counter-attacking chances to sway the match in their favor.

Lineup Prediction

Barcelona's predicted lineup:

1. Wojciech Szczesny
2. Jules Kounde
3. Ronald Araujo
4. Pau Cubarsi
5. Alejandro Balde
6. Gavi
7. Frenkie de Jong
8. Pedri
9. Lamine Yamal
10. Robert Lewandowski
11. Raphinha

Dortmund's predicted lineup:

1. Gregor Kobel
2. Waldemar Anton
3. Emre Can
4. Ramy Bensebaini
5. Julian Ryerson
6. Carney Chukwuemeka
7. Felix Nmecha
8. Julian Brandt
9. Maximilian Beier
10. Serhou Guirassy
11. Karim Adeyemi

Football fans can catch the highly anticipated clash between Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund live on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, and CBS Sports Golazo Network. The excitement is set to unfold on Wednesday, April 9, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.