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Barcelona, Paris St Germain on track for Champions League semi-finals
AP • April 10th, 2025 10:00 am
Photo: AP
Five-time Champions League winners Barcelona have crushed Borussia Dortmund 4-0 with veteran striker Robert Lewandowski scoring twice either side of goals from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.
Thursday's (NZ time) quarter-final first leg result leaves the Catalan club in a strong position to reach the semis for the first time since 2019.
The return match is next Wednesday at Dortmund, who were last year's runners-up to Real Madrid.
"We played very well but we can't be thinking about the semi-finals yet," Lewandowski said.
"We scored four goals at home but we still have the return leg to play."
Ousmane Dembele celebrates with Nuno Mendes after his goal against Aston Villa | Photo: AP
Raphinha added to his Champions League-leading tally by poking the ball into the open net in the 25th minute for his 12th goal in the competition this season. He than helped set up Lewandowski's first goal of the night in the 48th.
Lewandowski scored his 11th Champions League goal in the 66th before Yamal closed the scoring in the 77th.
The 36-year-old Lewandowski had scored 17 of his 105 career goals in the Champions League for Dortmund over three seasons from 2011-14.
The Poland striker, who is also the Spanish league's leading scorer this season with 25 goals, has 40 goals in all competitions.
"A striker always needs to be thinking about scoring goals, and when the team plays well it becomes easier for me," Lewandowski added.
In France, a wonder goal from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia upstaged a brilliant curling shot from teammate Desire Doue as Paris Saint-Germain beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final.
