Substitute Ferran Torres scored twice in 10 minutes to lead Barcelona to a 3-2 victory at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, securing their place in the Champions League knockout phase.
Raphinha put Barcelona ahead in the 53rd minute, finishing off a counter-attack sparked by a Dani Olmo pass. However, Serhou Guirassy equalized for Dortmund seven minutes later with a penalty.
Torres, who replaced the underperforming Robert Lewandowski, gave Barcelona the lead with a rebound goal in the 75th minute, only for Guirassy to level things up again.
As Dortmund pressed for their first-ever win over Barcelona, Lamine Yamal set up Torres on a counter, and the winger calmly slotted the ball past Gregor Kobel to seal the win.
The win ensured Barcelona will reach at least the playoffs while putting them in pole position for a top-eight berth and direct qualification for the last 16.
Dortmund suffered their first loss at home in all competitions this season, sliding down to ninth in the Champions League table.
Beset by injuries, Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin named a surprise starting XI, opting for pace and youth to try and catch out Hansi Flick’s high-risk, high-reward visitors.
Sahin handed Julien Duranville, 18, a starting debut while Gio Reyna started for the first time this season.
Raphinha caused Dortmund problems early and was inches away from a tap in before he blasted just wide with an open goal beckoning moments later.
When Dortmund did make it out of their own half, they did so through the fleet-footed Duranville, who found Marcel Sabitzer in a crowded penalty box but he blazed over.
The visitors’ high defensive line was a pre-game target for Dortmund but the hosts were caught out early in the second half when Olmo put Raphinha in acres of space, allowing the captain to calmly dribble goalwards and slot a low shot home.
Pau Cubarsi gave Dortmund a sniff shortly after Barcelona took the lead, pushing Guirassy to the turf in the box and giving away an unnecessary penalty, which the Guinean converted.
Dortmund began played with renewed confidence but Barcelona struck on the counter, Torres slotting in a rebound after Kobel parried Fermin Lopez’s volley.
The lead lasted three minutes as Yan Couto spotted an on-rushing Pascal Gross, with the former Brighton midfielder passing to Guirassy who rolled into an empty net after Inaki Pena came charging out of his area.
Barcelona snatched their fifth win in six games in Europe though as Yamal played in Torres, who atoned for a poor first touch by hammering low into the corner five minutes from time.
