Barça have one foot in the Champions League semifinals. The 4-0 they handed to Borussia Dortmund at Montjuïc leaves the tie well on track.
They'll say Dortmund wasn't a match for Barça. It's true. But this team, a few months ago, played the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Barça controlled the game from the start with fluid soccer and precise passes. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha easily advanced down the wings, and Lewandowski sowed panic through the center.
Pedri, as always, wielded the baton well assisted by Fermín, who today acted as a link. Barça reached easily and tried, but the 1-0 didn't come until the 25th minute, when Cubarsí shot at goal from an assist by Íñigo Martínez.
Raphinha and Lewandowski, the Kings of Goals in Europe
With the ball almost in, Raphinha, right on the line, pushed it in, thus scoring the first goal. It's Raphinha's 12th goal in 11 matches.
Raphinha is the top scorer of the current Champions League edition, with one goal ahead of Lewandowski. They are the kings of goals in Europe. Leo Messi's historic record, with 14 goals, in the 2011-12 season, is already within reach.
After the goal, Barça became more conservative, and Borussia Dortmund pushed their lines forward in search of an equalizer. They had three chances to achieve it.
After the break, in the 47th minute, Lamine Yamal sent a measured cross for Raphinha to head to Lewandowski, who didn't miss right on the line. One goal and one assist for Raphinha.
Barça was firing on all cylinders, and Lamine Yamal sowed panic down the right wing.
In the 66th minute, the 3-0 came in a brilliant play initiated by Lamine Yamal, with a deep pass to Fermín. He saw Lewandowski and sent him the ball while entering the area at a run. Just as it came to him, he sent the ball to the back of the net with a sharp shot.
From 3-0 to 4-0
Barça arrived when and how they wanted against a harmless Dortmund that in the second half went backward trying to defend a score that was already against them. But they lacked offensive arguments.
In the 77th minute, the game's verdict came. With a great goal initiated by Lewandowski from his field. He sent it to Raphinha and then to Lamine Yamal, who placed the ball in the goal with a subtle toe touch while running.
Montjuïc was coming down. "Madridist the one who doesn't jump," was heard in chorus in the stands. After Real Madrid's 3-0 yesterday, today's 4-0 tastes like glory among Barça fans.
Barça will go to Signal Iduna Stadium with a four-goal advantage. More relaxed than Arsenal in their visit to Bernabéu.
It's the result both teams deserved for what they showed on the field.