Torres on the double as Barca win five-goal thriller

Ferran Torres bagged a brace from the bench as Barcelona went second within the UEFA Champions League standings with an entertaining 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund.

After a tentative opening interval from both aspect, the sport burst into life eight minutes after the interval as Barcelona captain Raphinha opened the scoring with a ruthless end inside the world.

The hosts have been shortly stage as Serhou Guirassy transformed from the spot after being nudged to the bottom by younger Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi.

Simply 4 minutes after approaching, Torres restored the lead for Hansi Flick’s aspect as he transformed from shut vary after Gregor Kobel parried the hassle of fellow substitute Fermin Lopez.

Nuri Sahin’s males have been again on stage phrases simply three minutes later as Dortmund beat the guests’ offside entice and Pascal Gross squared the ball round Inaki Pena for Guirassy to double his tally.

Although it was the Catalan aspect who had the final snigger as Torres’ scientific end rounded off a lightning-quick counter-attack following a mis-placed move from Gross to clinch all three factors.

Barcelona transfer as much as second with the victory, two factors away from the host of groups on 13 factors in the remainder of the automated qualification spots.

Up subsequent for the 2015 champions is a visit to Benfica earlier than their last league section fixture at house to Atalanta.

Dortmund stay only one place exterior of the highest eight on 12 factors, and can search for constructive leads to their remaining ties with Bologna and Shakhtar Dontesk to keep away from the play-offs.

The 2 sides prime the scoring charts on this yr’s competitors with Barcelona main the way in which on 21 objectives after simply six fixtures.

After a cagey opening interval of few probabilities, the sport sparked into life within the second half, significantly within the last half hour, and far of this was right down to the adjustments from both aspect.

For Dortmund, the introduction of Gross noticed a participant enter the sector who may decide his head up and threaten Barcelona’s excessive line together with his vary of passing.

Having stated that, it was the German’s ahead run to get on the top of a move that created the house aspect’s second.

As for Barcelona, Lopez and Torres supplied the leading edge which they’d lacked for a lot of the primary half with the latter trying to exploit the hosts’ excessive line.

It was Lopez’s effort that Torres rebounded house for the guests’ second of the night, whereas it was Lopez who led the counter for his or her all-important third, which Torres supplied the ruthless end for.

Paradoxically, it was Gross’ sloppy move from Dortmund’s personal nook that led to the possibility of a Barcelona breakaway.

Regardless of Torres’ apparent affect on proceedings, Lamine Yamal was the excellent participant all through this fixture.

He appeared the most certainly to make the breakthrough within the opening interval whereas his elegant cross with the skin of his foot ought to have been buried by Raphinha from a matter of yards out earlier than the break.

The winger continued to torment full-back Ramy Bensebaini, who ought to have picked up a second yellow for a foul on the winger, and it was his intelligent through-ball which arrange Torres for the winner.

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel 6; Ryerson 6, Can 6, Schlotterbeck 7, Bensebaini 5; Sabitzer 6, Nmecha 7; Duranville 7, Reyna 6, Gittens 5; Guirassy 7. Subs: Couto 6, Gross 6, Malen 5.

Barcelona: Pena 6; Kounde 7, Cubarsi 5, Martinez 6, Balde 6; Pedri 6, Casado 6, Olmo 7; Yamal 8*, Lewandowski 5, Raphinha 7. Subs: De Jong 6, Lopez 7, Torres 8, Victor N/A, Garcia N/A.

52′ – GOAL! BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0-1 BARCELONA (RAPHINHA): Olmo turns properly in midfield earlier than driving on the defence and poking a move in behind for Raphinha. The Barcelona captain takes it on into the left of the world earlier than dispatching together with his left foot into the underside proper nook.

60′ – GOAL! BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-1 BARCELONA (GUIRASSY): Guirassy, who gained the penalty, steps as much as take it and slots house into the underside left nook. Pena dived the best manner however it was tucked nicely within the nook, giving the keeper no likelihood.

75′ – GOAL! BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-2 BARCELONA (TORRES): Yamal performs a pleasant ball for the underlapping Kounde whose cross from the best is volleyed on the right track with a hooked effort by Lopez. Kobel saves however parries to the toes of Torres who faucets house from a matter of yards out.

78′ – GOAL! BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-2 BARCELONA (GUIRASSY): As Barcelona look to play the offside entice, Gross is performed by means of on aim by Couto. As Pena comes flying out of his field, the German will get there first to sq. it for Guirassy who has an empty web to faucet house into.

85′ – GOAL! BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-3 BARCELONA (TORRES): Following Dortmund’s nook, Gross offers it away with a sloppy move and Barcelona can break by means of Lopez. He finds Yamal to his proper and the winger slips Torres into the best of the field. His first contact is poor however his second is sensible as he rifles it into the underside left nook.