Anna 
Barcelona took a big step toward the Champions League semifinals with a dominant 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. The first-leg victory was led by standout performances from Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, putting the Spanish club in control ahead of next week’s return match in Germany.
Lewandowski scored twice in the second half, while Raphinha added a goal and an assist. Young star Lamine Yamal also got on the scoresheet in a night to remember for the home crowd.
The second leg will be played next Tuesday at Dortmund. The German side were runners-up in last year’s tournament, losing the final to Barcelona’s historic rival, Real Madrid.
Despite the big win, Lewandowski urged caution. “We played very well, but we can’t be thinking about the semifinals yet,” he said. “We scored four goals at home, but we still have the return leg to play.”
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 25th minute, tapping into an open net for his 12th goal in the competition this season. He then set up Lewandowski’s first goal in the 48th minute. The Polish striker added another in the 66th, before Yamal sealed the result in the 77th.
Lewandowski, 36, now has 14 Champions League goals after turning 35, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s record. He previously scored 17 Champions League goals for Dortmund during his time there from 2011 to 2014.
This season, Lewandowski has scored 40 goals in all competitions. He also leads the Spanish league with 25 goals.
“A striker always needs to be thinking about scoring goals, and when the team plays well, it becomes easier for me,” said Lewandowski.
Raphinha, meanwhile, has now scored in four straight Champions League knockout games, with seven goals in that stretch. He started the match as the competition’s top scorer with 11 goals, ahead of Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy and Bayern’s Harry Kane.
In another quarterfinal match on Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa 3-1. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored a stunning goal, outshining a brilliant curling effort from teammate Desire Doue.
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