Barcelona 3-1 Borussia Dortmund: 3 Reasons why the Blaugrana won | Champions League 2019-20

Barcelona swatted aside the challenge of Borussia Dortmund as the Blaugrana emerged 3-1 winners at the Camp Nou in a Group F fixture of the UEFA Champions League. The hosts survived an early scare but were excellent thereafter, meaning that the German side were often left searching for answers.

After a quarter of an hour had passed, Luis Suarez made the net bulge after Lionel Messi slipped in a perfectly-weighted through-ball. However, the linesman raised his flag to rule out the goal.

However, the Uruguayan eventually made the net bulge in the 29th minute when he finished off Messi’s exquisite pass. Four minutes later, the Argentine got himself on the score-sheet with a superb left-footed finish from the left edge of the box.

After the restart, Dortmund provided a bit more resistance but they were caught by the proverbial sucker punch when Antoine Griezmann found himself in space on the left channel and slotted past Roman Burki.

Though Jadon Sancho pulled one back and hit the post late in the game, it merely acted as a consolation rather than as a springboard for an improbable comeback.

Here is a look at the three reasons that allowed Barcelona to post a commanding victory.

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#3 Barcelona run riot in the first half

Suarez and Messi scored a goal each in the first half

Barcelona came into the game on the back of a scrappy 2-1 victory against Leganes at the weekend. Thus, the Blaugrana hadn’t shaken off the turmoil that had engulfed them before the international break, meaning that the encounter against Borussia Dortmund represented a potential banana skin.

To that end, the German side started off briskly when they capitalised on Ivan Rakitic’ mistake to churn out an attempt at goal. To put things into perspective, Samuel Umtiti had to clear the ball off the line when Nico Schulz got on the end of Achraf Hakimi’s cut-back.

However, once that danger had been averted, the hosts grew into the game and clicked into gear. Subsequently, Dortmund were left chasing shadows for the rest of the half as the Blaugrana swarmed all over them and stitched together several irresistible offensive moves.

Rakitic was brilliant in midfield and he acted as the ideal link between the midfield and attack. Ousmane Dembele also looked bright before he hobbled off whereas Junior Firpo and Sergi Roberto kept popping up in the final third to provide width to Barcelona’s attack.

Moreover, Messi and Suarez showcased their telepathic understanding as the pair combined for both goals with the former scoring the second and the Uruguayan opening the scoring.

Apart from the goals, there was real purpose to the Blaugrana’s possession, a facet that has been under the spotlight quite extensively in recent weeks. Whenever they had the ball, they wanted to progress vertically, thereby signalling a slight change in intent.

Most promisingly though, they weren’t devoid of any movement in the middle and attacking third as the players interchanged positions with ease and caused the visitors all sorts of problems.

Over the past few months, quite a few people have been critical of Ernesto Valverde’s tactics and his excessive pragmatism. And, while that particular trait of his might not change in a trice, a performance of such an ilk might just buy him a bit of time.

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#2 Borussia Dortmund play into Barcelona’s hands

Lucien Favre

On match-day 1, Borussia Dortmund had showcased enough attacking verve and zeal to put Barcelona under strife. Thus, before the contest at the Camp Nou, they had a template that could be followed, wherein they could trade punches with the Blaugrana, hoping to pile up the pressure on their make-shift defence.

However, the German outfit were extremely defensive with their approach at the outset, a fact embodied by the choice of personnel. Hakimi and Raphael Guerreiro were fielded as wingers whereas Axel Witsel and Julian Weigl functioned as the defensive midfielders. Thus, Dortmund essentially had 8 defensive-minded outfield players, with Julian Brandt and Marco Reus proving the only anomalies.

Consequently, they conceded possession to Barcelona and allowed them to settle into a passing rhythm. And, unsurprisingly, the German side were put to the sword by the La Liga champions.

Moreover, they contrived to give the ball away in dangerous areas, something that cost them dearly through the course of the game, with the second goal exemplifying the above.

At the start of the second half, there seemed to be more intent on Dortmund’s part and they instantly looked a better side and one capable of mounting a comeback. And, though that particular endeavour was nipped in a bud by the Blaugrana, it certainly displayed the trick the German side had missed out on.

And, courtesy their circumspect approach, they now face a clutch tie against Slavia Prague on match-day 6.

#1 Lionel Messi dazzles on his 700th club appearance

Messi was simply brilliant

Before the game began, Lionel Messi created a bit of history as he became only the 2nd footballer to ever don the Blaugrana jersey 700 times. And, he celebrated that milestone on the pitch with a virtuoso display.

The Argentine was a bundle of energy throughout the game and kept posing all kinds of questions to the Dortmund rear-guard. And, whenever the German side felt that they had a miniscule solution, he created even more problems, meaning that the visitors never enjoyed a defensive moment of peace.

The Barcelona captain combined well with the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Rakitic and provided a constant passing outlet to the central midfielders. Additionally, his link-up play with Suarez was exemplary as Messi teed up the former for the first goal before the Uruguayan returned the favour a few minutes later.

After the break, the Argentine set up Griezmann for his 1st Champions League goal of the season with an inch-perfect through ball.

Apart from his goal contributions, he led the Dortmund defence a merry dance with his dazzling dribbling abilities and left the visiting midfielders and defenders dizzy at times.

And, to cap of an exceptional display, he hit the crossbar from a free-kick on the right flank.

Over the years, Messi has provided countless memories at the Camp Nou, with his propensity to outdo himself unparalleled. And, while it would be wise to not delve into a discussion on his greatest ever performances in the Champions League, one can’t help but gape at his mastery in awe on Wednesday.