Overview
Barcelona are one of the best attacking teams in Europe in the 2024-2025 season. Coach Hansi Flick's team is the team with the most goals in both La Liga and the Champions League. Including both arenas, Blaugrana scored 68 goals in just 22 matches, an average of more than 3 goals/match.
However, a loose defense is dragging Barca's performance down. With an all-out attacking style, Barcelona is one of the teams that uses the offside trap most often. In the early stages, this style of play is difficult to predict and brings high efficiency. However, over time, opponents gradually study and find ways to counter it.
In recent times, Blaugrana's defense has shown more holes, thereby conceding more goals. In the last 10 matches, they have only kept a clean sheet in 2 matches. Poor defense is also the reason why Barcelona has lost points in 2/5 recent matches.
Not as impressive as Barcelona, but Dortmund also owns a formidable attack in Europe. With 16 goals after 5 matches, they are the second best attack in this year's Champions League.
However, that achievement is partly due to the match schedule, because except for Real Madrid, Dortmund have not met any team from the top 5 European national championships. In the match against Los Blancos, Dortmund lost 2-5 despite leading by 2 goals.
Last season, Dortmund's defense was the foundation that helped them win the Champions League runner-up position. However, after the departure of captain Matt Hummels, they have not had a worthy replacement.
As a result, Dortmund's defense has been relatively poor this year. Facing Barcelona's strong attack, the Bundesliga representative promises to have a difficult match.
The two teams have only met twice in their history in the 2019-20 Champions League group stage. The two sides drew 0-0 in Germany before Barcelona won 3-1 at home.
Human resources situation
Dortmund are once again without injured duo Karim Adeyemi and Waldemar Anton. Julian Brandt has missed the last two Bundesliga games with a muscle problem and is yet to return.
On the other side of the front line, Barcelona will be unable to call up Andreas Christensen, Ansu Fati, Marc Bernal, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ronald Araujo, all of whom are injured.
Expected lineup:
Dortmund: Kobel, Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Gross, Malen, Guirassy, Bynoe-Gittens.
Barcelona: Pena, Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin, Casado, Pedri, Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha, Lewandowski.
The match between Dortmund and Barcelona takes place at 3:00 a.m. on December 12 (Vietnam time).
