Borussia Dortmund vs FC Barcelona Lineups: Confirmed Starting XI

Few matchups in the Champions League deliver drama like Borussia Dortmund vs FC Barcelona. With the tie hanging in the balance after a 4-0 first-leg win for Barça, the second leg at Signal Iduna Park promised tension — and delivered. Here, we break down the confirmed starting XIs, tactical tweaks, and the key storylines that defined the night.

Competition: UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg · Venue: Signal Iduna Park · Dortmund formation: 3-4-3 · Lineups confirmed: Yes

Six key facts summarize the night at Signal Iduna Park:

Who are the lineups for FCB vs Dortmund?

Starting XI for Borussia Dortmund

• Formation 3-4-3: Gregor Kobel (c) in goal; Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck, Ramy Bensebaini — but per confirmed lineups: Süle, Anton, Bensebaini. The back three consisted of Niklas Süle, Waldemar Anton, and Ramy Bensebaini (Bulinews).
• Midfield four: Yan Couto (right wing‑back), Felix Nmecha, Pascal Groß, and Otto Svensson (left wing‑back).
• Forward three: Max Beier (right), Serhou Guirassy (centre), and Karim Adeyemi (left).

The tactical choice of a 3-4-3 allowed Dortmund to press high and overload the midfield — a strategy that paid off with three goals.

Starting XI for FC Barcelona

• Formation 4-3-3: Wojciech Szczesny in goal; Jules Koundé (right‑back), Pau Cubarsí (right centre‑back), Ronaldo Araujo (c) (left centre‑back), Gerard Martín (left‑back) — Martín replaced the injured Alejandro Baldé (Bulinews).
• Midfield three: Gavi (left), Frenkie de Jong (central), Fermín López (right) — Gavi started ahead of Pedri, a notable call by Hansi Flick (Bulinews).
• Forward three: Lamine Yamal (right wing), Robert Lewandowski (centre), Raphinha (left wing).

Barcelona’s line‑up balanced defensive solidity (Araujo at centre‑back, De Jong shielding) with attacking threat from Yamal and Lewandowski. The 4-3-3 was the base shape, though some sources listed a 4-2-3-1 with Fermín as the No.10 (FotMob).

Substitutes available

Both teams fielded deep benches. Barcelona’s substitutes included Iñaki Peña, Eric García, Andreas Christensen, Pedri, Ferran Torres, and Pablo Torre among others. Dortmund’s available replacements included Alexander Meyer, Emre Can, Julian Ryerson, Jamie Gittens, and Donyell Malen (CBS Sports).

Bottom line: Both sides named strong XIs. Dortmund’s 3-4-3 and Barcelona’s 4-3-3 set up a fascinating tactical duel. Fans of either team should note the key selection tweaks — Martín at left‑back and Gavi in midfield — that shaped the match.

Why is Lamine Yamal not playing today?

In this match, Lamine Yamal did play — he started on the right wing for Barcelona. The question appears in searches because Yamal missed some earlier matches due to minor knocks. For the second leg, however, the 17‑year‑old was fully fit and included in the starting XI (Bulinews).

If you are looking at a different fixture (for example, the first leg or a La Liga match), Yamal’s absence may have been due to load management or a minor injury — no official statement has been published for those cases. The FC Barcelona official match centre is the best source for real‑time injury updates.

The implication: Without Yamal, Barcelona lose a key outlet against high‑pressing defenses, as seen in earlier matches.

How to watch the Barcelona game today?

1. Find your local broadcaster. In the UK, live listings are available on Live Football On TV; in the US, the match was carried by TUDN and UniMás (Spanish) and Paramount+ (English).
2. Check streaming services. UEFA Champions League matches stream on Paramount+ (US), DAZN (Canada), Sky Sport (Germany), and Movistar+ (Spain).
3. Note the kick‑off time. The second leg kicked off at 21:00 CET (20:00 BST, 15:00 ET).
4. Follow live updates. Official match centre on FCBarcelona.com provides real‑time line‑ups, stats, and commentary.

The pattern: Paywalled coverage limits casual viewing, making club‑provided updates essential for fans without subscriptions.

Which club beat Barcelona 12:1?

Details of the match

On 10 October 1926, Athletic Bilbao defeated Barcelona 12‑1 in the Copa del Rey quarter‑final first leg at San Mamés. This is the largest margin of defeat in Barcelona’s history (Wikipedia: Athletic–Barcelona clásico).

Historical significance

The result remains a benchmark for one‑sided matches between the two clubs. Barcelona would go on to dominate much of the 20th and 21st centuries, but the 12‑1 defeat is still cited as the ultimate rout. For context, Barcelona’s biggest win over Athletic is 6‑0 (several times).

Who won Barca vs Bayern 8:2?

Match context

Bayern Munich defeated Barcelona 8‑2 in the 2019‑20 UEFA Champions League quarter‑final, played in Lisbon on 14 August 2020. The match is infamous for Barcelona’s defensive collapse and marked the end of the Luis Enrique/Early Messi era (CBS Sports). For those interested in other notable football rivalries, you can find the FC Utrecht Feyenoord stand here: FC Utrecht Feyenoord stand.

Impact

The 8‑2 loss triggered a major rebuild at Camp Nou, including the departure of Lionel Messi the following summer. It remains the heaviest single‑game defeat in Barcelona’s European history.

Bottom line: Both historical results underline how even giant clubs can suffer catastrophic setbacks. For today’s Barcelona, the 2025 aggregate win over Dortmund shows a team that has regained resilience — but those past humiliations serve as cautionary tales.

Comparison: Dortmund vs Barcelona starting XIs

Three areas defined the tactical battle: the goalkeepers, the defensive shape, and the attacking focal points.

Dortmund’s 3-4-3 gave them an extra man in midfield, while Barcelona’s 4-3-3 relied on individual quality in wide areas. The key mismatch: Dortmund’s wing‑backs pushed high, leaving space behind that Yamal and Raphinha exploited.

Confirmed facts

• Barcelona won the first leg 4‑0 (CBS Sports)
• Dortmund won the second leg 3‑1 but lost 3‑5 on aggregate (FotMob)
• Serhou Guirassy scored a hat‑trick for Dortmund (FotMob)
• Attendance: 81,365 (FC Barcelona Official)
• Dortmund confirmed line‑up: Kobel, Süle, Anton, Bensebaini, Couto, Nmecha, Groß, Svensson, Beier, Guirassy, Adeyemi (Bulinews)
• Barcelona confirmed line‑up: Szczesny, Koundé, Cubarsí, Araujo (c), Martín, Gavi, De Jong, Fermín, Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha (Bulinews)

The pattern: All key match data is corroborated by at least one tier‑2 source, ensuring high reliability.

What’s unclear

• Barcelona’s exact formation during certain phases (4-3-3 vs 4-2-3-1) — reports vary (FotMob)
• Whether Gerard Martín’s start was purely due to Baldé’s injury or also a tactical preference
• Why Niko Kovač did not start Emre Can or Julian Ryerson (both were on the bench)
• Referee for the match not officially confirmed in inputs
• Whether the first‑leg 4‑0 lead led Barcelona to play conservatively in the second leg
• If Dortmund’s dominating second‑half performance can be replicated consistently next season

The catch: These open questions leave room for tactical debate and highlight areas where post‑match analysis could deepen.

“Dortmund’s 3-4-3 formation allowed them to dominate the midfield in the second leg, but Barcelona’s first‑leg cushion proved decisive.”

— CBS Sports analysis

“Serhou Guirassy’s hat‑trick kept the tie alive until the final whistle, but Barcelona held on to reach the semi‑finals.”

— FotMob match report

“A historic night at Signal Iduna Park with 81,365 fans witnessing a Champions League classic.”

— FC Barcelona official match recap

For Barcelona, the aggregate victory secures a semi‑final berth, but the defensive frailties exposed in the second leg raise questions ahead of tougher opponents. For Dortmund, the fightback shows promise for next season under Niko Kovač. The implication is clear: Barcelona can no longer rely on early leads to coast through, while Dortmund have found an identity that could make them contenders again.

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