FC Barcelona made it across the finish line, but it was an ugly performance. Borussia Dortmund dominated proceedings, not to mention handing the Catalans their first L of the year.

Dortmund won the second leg of their UEFA Champions League match 3-1, and if anything, it was flattering to the visiting team. Barcelona still progressed 5-3 on aggregate, but it certainly made them nervous. The Germans created chance after chance, and Wojciech Szczęsny was under siege most of the game.

In just the opening half-hour, Borussia Dortmund scored a goal and created two other big chances, and took eight shots to Barça’s 1. By the end, Dortmund had created 5 chances to Barcelona’s 0, and outshot them 18-7. Szczęsny made eight saves, and allowed three other shots into his net. It says something that he was possibly Barcelona’s best player today. This loss was by no means an accident or a fluke result. The xG showed Dortmund with 3.85 to Barcelona’s 0.49.

Hansi Flick’s decision to rotate for this game could be questioned, although he was forced to make a few changes due to injuries, such as the one that afflicted Alejandro Balde. Still, that doesn’t quite explain Barcelona’s complete lack of concentration, and how superstar players such as Raphinha or Lamine Yamal looked ordinary.

In the center of defense, Ronald Araujo had a particularly poor game, but it’s not like any defender had a good one, either, so perhaps it’s wrong to single him out.

For whatever reason, Barcelona has always had a much harder time away from home in the UEFA Champions League. And it seems this is still the case given the result today. It’s probably not sustainable, since it relies on them getting huge wins at home to compensate. It’s hard to see Barcelona getting away with this type of display at San Siro or at the Allianz Arena, where their next opponent, either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich, play.