Raphinha matches Messi’s record as Barcelona dominate Dortmund in UCL thriller

Barcelona’s Champions League dream is alive and roaring, thanks to a historic night from Raphinha, who matched Lionel Messi’s club record for goal involvements in a single Champions League campaign.

The Brazilian star was unstoppable as Barça dismantled Borussia Dortmund in a commanding quarter-final first-leg win. Raphinha contributed a goal and two assists, bringing his total to 19 goal involvements this season—matching the legendary Messi’s tally from the 2011–12 campaign.

Barcelona took control early on, with Raphinha’s 12th European goal of the season putting them ahead at halftime. The momentum carried into the second half as Robert Lewandowski netted a clinical brace, and young sensation Lamine Yamal added the final blow with a composed finish to make it 4–0.

The hosts ran riot in the early stages and could have scored three times inside the opening seven minutes, with Yamal and Lewandowski forcing Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel into smart saves.

Barca’s pressure told in the 25th minute, although the goal was a touch fortuitous

Fermin Lopez’s free-kick – awarded when Karim Adeyemi pulled the hair of Jules Kounde – found Inigo Martinez at the far post, who headed the ball across the six-yard box.

Pau Cubarsi poked the ball towards the far corner past the dive of Kobel, with Champions League top scorer Raphinha just about staying onside for a sliding finish on the line.

Dortmund grew into the game as the half progressed, with Adeyemi and Serhou Guirassy going close as the break approached.

Lewandowski, though, doubled Barca’s lead three minutes after the restart from a yard out, converting Raphinha’s header across the face of goal following Yamal’s cross to the far post.

Dortmund began to struggle as mistakes on the ball gifted the La Liga leaders several more chances. Fermin hit the outside of the post with a fizzing low strike from 16 yards out, before blazing over a rebound a minute later.

Lewandowski put the first leg beyond doubt with his 99th goal for the club, finishing off a lightning counter-attack in the 66th minute with a ruthless first-time strike under Kobel.

Raphinha matched Messi’s record by sliding the ball across for Yamal to finish in the 77th minute following another ruthless break.

Barcelona will travel to Germany for the second leg on Tuesday, 15 April.