Lewandowski nets brace as Barca thumps Dortmund
Barcelona is all but assured of a Champions League semi-final spot after trouncing Borussia Dortmund 4-0, with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice against his former club.
Lewandowski netted twice in the space of 18 second-half minutes after Raphinha continued his electric Champions League form with a 25th-minute opener.
Niko Kovac's visitor, fighting to return to this competition amid a poor Bundesliga campaign, shipped a fourth to Lamine Yamal in the 77th minute.
Dortmund needs the most improbable comeback of all if it is to have any chance of replicating last season's run to the final, ahead of hosting the second leg on Tuesday.
Hansi Flick's host side, who could win four trophies this season, dominated early on and went ahead from a free-kick awarded for Karim Adeyemi pulling Jules Kounde's hair.
Pau Cubarsi nodded Fermin Lopez's delivery back across goal, and though it may already have been creeping in, Raphinha applied a final touch on the line.
A string of saves from Dortmund's Gregor Kobel frustrated Barca for the remainder of the first half, while Serhou Guirassy hit the side-netting after a neat turn at the other end.
Barca emerged more determined following the break, and it took them only three minutes to double their lead, Raphinha heading Yamal's dink across to Lewandowski, who finished with a header of his own.
The Poland striker then extended the lead further in the 66th minute, drilling home after excellent work from Lopez on the right flank.
And with Dortmund's confidence in tatters, Barca put more gloss on the scoreline through teenage sensation Yamal. He took a brilliant first touch after being released by Raphinha, then prodded past Kobel to put the Blaugrana on the cusp of a semi-final appearance.
