Barcelona made a huge leap towards the round of 16 of the Champions League after defeating Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on Wednesday evening.
The contest at Signal Iduna Park flared up in the second half after a scoreless opening period. Barcelona gave up its advantage twice, with Serho Geraci scoring a brace, but Ferran Torres ensured his team grabbed the three points by scoring two goals.
Hansi Flick's team now ranks second in the league table, while Dortmund dropped out of the top eight.
How did the match develop?
We witnessed the collapse of Europe's aristocracy under the lights at Signal Iduna Park, and the Yellow Wall was excited about Barcelona's visit here.
However, the La Liga leaders were not constrained by the atmosphere and immediately settled into the contest. Dani Olmo caused chaos between the lines early on, facilitating two early chances from crossing situations that Barcelona failed to make the most of. Rafinha likely would have been ruled offside had he converted Lamin Yamal's disgusting cross.
After an excellent opening, Dortmund's pressing began to frustrate Flick's side, who struggled to time their passes at the back and were reluctant at times to test the hosts' blocks.
Dortmund were passive but composed, with an uninspiring start for 30 minutes followed by a bright end to the first half. Marcel Sabitzer missed a great chance from Julian Duranvil's pass, while Iñaki Pena's shot was blocked by Geraci before being ruled offside after meeting Giovanni Reyna's cross.
The hosts were undoubtedly more aggressive after the start of the second half, which contributed to the excitement and excitement that followed. Twice Barcelona looked like they would have complete control of the game, but Dortmund brought them back. Rafinha and Ferran Torres scored from a penalty kick for Djerassi's side before the Borussia Dortmund striker scored his second goal of the match as Sahin's side leveled for the second time.
With Flick's substitutions disrupting Barcelona's control, Dortmund seemed most likely to achieve an unforgettable victory. However, Borussia Dortmund defended woefully from a corner kick of their own in the final ten minutes, allowing Barcelona to make a quick run and get to Ferran at the back.
The opportunity appeared to evade the Spaniard at first, but he found his feet inside the box and finished brilliantly past Coppell to give Barcelona a 3-2 lead. While a sixth goal could not have been ruled out given the hectic nature of the second half, the visitors held on for a huge Champions League victory.
Check out the player ratings for Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona here.
There have been some standout players for Barcelona this season, but none more impressive than Rafinha. The former Leeds United star struggled to impress during his first two years at the club, but he is now fully realizing his 'childhood dream'.
Rafinha wore the captain's armband again, although he appeared to be holding it with his left hand in parts of the match. However, he had the Catalan flag tied tightly to his arm as he raced behind the Dortmund backline and opened the scoring after being cleverly fed by Dani Olmo.
The Brazilian could have easily put the ball on Lamine Yamal's pad to slot home, but there was only one thing on his mind as he entered Dortmund's penalty area. His left-footed finish was emphatic as he scored his sixth Champions League goal of the season in as many games.
27 goal contributions in just 22 games this season. This is the Ravenha team.
There have been some accusations of Barcelona's bench failure this season, with Flick settling into a starting XI that is starting to show some wear.
The German elected to make a triple substitution 20 minutes from time in Dortmund, and it was one of those arrivals that won the game for the visitors.
Ferran is proving himself as a useful alternative to Rafinha and Robert Lewandowski. He is relatively comfortable when dropped or playing wide, but is most effective when penetrating from the back.
Ferran combined with fellow substitute Fermin Lopez to score his first goal, scoring from close range after blocking Fermin's shot. His second goal, delivered by Yamal, was a brilliant finish – one worthy of winning any match.
Barcelona may have surrendered more control in the final 20 minutes, but Flick will feel great knowing that his changes help tip the game in his team's favour.
A promising generation from Dortmund, led by Jimmy Gittins, is coming through, and Sahin handed the 18-year-old Doranville his first Champions League start on Wednesday night.
The winger has made sporadic appearances for Dortmund this season after suffering a hamstring injury in the autumn, but his performance against Barcelona highlighted a player who could have a big role to play for Sahin's side moving forward.
Duranville was brave in attacking Alejandro Balde one-on-one. He has a low center of gravity and tremendous speed, which makes his dribbling explosive. Balde was never sure exactly what Duranville was doing as the pair faced off against Dortmund's right flank. The winger plays primarily left-footed, but is comfortable with his right foot and is able to beat his man on the outside.
Doranville created the best chance of the first half after he passed Balde and passed the ball to Sabitzer, but the Austrian international blazed over the crossbar. It was a sight that embodied the winger's threat, and although the second half was quieter, the Yellow Wall were captivated by the teenager's glimpses.
