Barcelona Thrash Dortmund, PSG Sink Aston Villa in UCL First-Leg Wins

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured commanding wins in the first legs of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final ties on Wednesday.

At the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski haunted his former club Borussia Dortmund, scoring twice as the Spanish giants cruised to a 4-0 victory. Raphinha opened the scoring in the 25th minute, nudging the ball over the line after a flick from Pau Cubarsí — a goal that survived a VAR review for offside.

Lewandowski, who played for Dortmund in their 2013 final defeat to Bayern Munich, added a second early in the second half, heading in after a clever assist from Raphinha. He struck again in the 66th minute with a powerful finish to extend Barca’s lead, before 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal rounded off the dominant performance.

“We’ll still give it everything at home,” said Dortmund’s Emre Can. “It’s about pride now.”

Barca head to Germany for the return leg with a comfortable cushion and their sights set on the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, PSG battled back from a goal down to defeat Aston Villa 3-1 in Birmingham. Morgan Rogers had given the Premier League side an early lead, but PSG responded in style. Désiré Doué leveled with a stunning strike, before Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia netted a brilliant solo goal. Nuno Mendes sealed the win late on with a composed finish.

The French champions take a crucial away-goal advantage into the second leg in Paris.

Elsewhere in Tuesday’s first-leg action, Arsenal thumped holders Real Madrid 3-0 in London, while Inter Milan edged Bayern Munich 2-1 in Germany.

Barcelona, five-time champions, are playing at the Olympic Stadium while the iconic Nou Camp undergoes renovation. Their commanding display under coach Hansi Flick, who lifted the trophy with Bayern Munich in 2020, puts them in a strong position to progress.

Dortmund, last season’s runners-up, were left reeling—especially in the absence of key defender Nico Schlotterbeck, sidelined with a knee injury. Striker Serhou Guirassy missed two chances that might have changed the tie’s complexion.

Lewandowski now has 11 goals in this season’s Champions League campaign, as Barcelona continue their hunt for European glory.