Raphinha Shines Bright As He Matches Messi Record In Barcelona’s Ruthless Demolition Of Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona lit up the Champions League quarter-finals with a blistering 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund, powered by a dazzling performance from Raphinha, who equalled a club record set by none other than Lionel Messi. This emphatic win not only places the Spanish giants firmly in control of the tie, but also underlines Raphinha's meteoric rise to becoming one of the team's leading stars on the European stage.
This memorable night was marked by the Brazilian winger matching Messi's record for the most Champions League goal involvements in a single campaign for Barcelona, set back in the 2011-12 season. Raphinha’s goal and two assists brought his tally to a phenomenal 19 – a feat that speaks volumes about his explosive impact since donning the Blaugrana shirt. His decisive contribution inspired a dominant Barca display that overwhelmed the German challengers from the first whistle to the last.
Barcelona's much-feared attack clicked perfectly in the opening exchanges, carving open Dortmund’s defence repeatedly. Despite several early chances, it took until the 25th minute to break the deadlock – in somewhat contentious fashion. After Karim Adeyemi fouled Jules Kounde, Fermín López’s curling free-kick found Íñigo Martínez, who headed back across goal. Youngster Pau Cubarsí poked it goalwards, only for Raphinha to make a last-gasp touch right on the line.
Speaking after the game, Raphinha admitted to feeling nervous about possibly being offside and confessed he apologised to Cubarsí, revealing: "I touched the ball before the line and apologised to Cubarsí, and he told me it was fine, that it would count as an assist. It’s a quick decision." His teammate's graciousness aside, the goal counted, setting Barca on their way.
Dortmund grew into the game before the break, but Barcelona’s clinical edge after half-time put the tie almost out of sight. Within three minutes of the restart, Lewandowski pounced from close range after Raphinha headed down a teasing Lamine Yamal cross. The relentless pressure continued, as Lewandowski doubled his tally—his 99th goal for the club—with a ruthless finish following a swift counter-attack in the 66th minute.
Moments later came the crowning achievement, when Raphinha collected the ball on a rapid break and unselfishly squared it to Lamine Yamal, who finished coolly for Barca's fourth. That assist tied Raphinha with Messi’s record and sparked jubilation among the Camp Nou faithful, witnessing a new hero step up under the European spotlight.
The scoreline could have been even more lopsided, as Barcelona registered ten shots on target and repeatedly threatened, with Yamal once again highlighting his precocious talent as the youngest player ever to reach 20 Champions League starts. Conversely, Dortmund struggled to contain Barca’s multi-pronged attack and were thwarted in their rare goal-scoring opportunities by excellent defensive work late on, including a heroic Ronald Araújo double block.
While the match seemed a lopsided rout, Raphinha remains grounded. Reflecting on the tie, the Brazilian insisted, "I’m not going to admit we’re in the semi-finals. There’s another game, and playing there is always difficult. They have a lot of quality. We got a good result but must continue like this." His cautious optimism shows a maturity matching his on-field brilliance.
This iconic performance may represent a passing of the torch moment within Barcelona’s European lore, as Raphinha steps out from Messi’s immense shadow to cement his own legacy. Yet the tie isn’t over, and all eyes will turn to Germany next week, where Dortmund have a mountain to climb against a resurgent Barca brimming with attacking flair and confidence.
Can Raphinha and the Catalans finish the job and march to another Champions League semi-final, or does Dortmund have a miraculous comeback up their sleeve? Share your thoughts and join the conversation below.
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