This Wednesday, FC Barcelona hosts Borussia Dortmund at Montjuïc. It's the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. A clash that could define the season.
Hansi Flick's team wants to take advantage of the crowd's support and gain a home advantage. Meanwhile, the Germans aim to hold on and have a chance in the return match.
There is tension, there is excitement, and there are also reunions. Robert Lewandowski will face his former team again. That always adds a bit of intrigue to the match.
Blow for Dortmund
The latest news has shaken Borussia Dortmund. Their starting center-back, Nico Schlotterbeck, will miss the rest of the season. He has torn the meniscus in his left knee.
This news has been confirmed by the club itself. The blow is enormous. Sebastian Kehl, Dortmund's sporting director, did not hide his disappointment:
"Nico's absence affects us deeply. He is a key piece of our team."
He is not wrong. Schlotterbeck was having a great season, even coming in rested after serving a suspension against Freiburg. Everything pointed to him arriving fresh at Montjuïc, but fate had other plans.
Bensebaini, the Alternative... or Not?
With this absence, coach Niko Kovac will have to find solutions. Against Freiburg, he opted for a three-man defense: Anton, Emre Can, and Ramy Bensebaini.
The Algerian is usually the choice when Schlotterbeck is not available. He has experience. He knows the position well, but there is a problem: he is also physically strained.
He was substituted on Saturday due to discomfort. He is being handled with care. That opens a new dilemma for Dortmund.
If Bensebaini is not ready, Kovac could turn to Salih Özcan. Although he is more commonly seen in midfield, he could be converted to the backline to fill the gap.
Lamine Yamal Smiles
In Barça, the news has been received as a blessing. Schlotterbeck's absence is a relief in the Barça locker room.
One of the happiest is Lamine Yamal. The young blaugrana talent knows he will have more freedom without the shadow of the German center-back.
Yamal has been one of the sensations of the season. Increasingly confident, more daring. With Schlotterbeck out, the winger could find more spaces and make a difference.
Everything to Decide
The match is played this Wednesday, the 9th, at 9:00 PM at the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc. It will be a tactical, physical, and mental battle. Barça wants to dream in Europe, and Dortmund, despite the absences, will not make it easy.