Beware of Barcelona's firepower, Kovac warns underdogs Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund must find a way to contain Barcelona's multifaceted attack when they meet in the Champions League quarter-finals, coach Niko Kovac has warned.

Barcelona - led by the in-form frontline of Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski - have not lost a game this year, and are still hunting a possible quadruple.

Having already won the Supercopa de Espana, they lead LaLiga ahead of Real Madrid, and will also face their arch-rivals in this month's Copa del Rey final.

Barca are also considered the Opta supercomputer's favourites to win the Champions League with a 23.1% chance, while they are given 78.2% chance of eliminating Dortmund ahead of Wednesday's first leg in Catalonia.

Kovac, who has only won six of his 12 games in charge of BVB in all competitions (two draws, four losses), is under no illusions regarding the challenge his team will face.

"We come here as outsiders, as underdogs, but it does not make it easier for our opponent," he told reporters.

"We are on the rise, so I see us as underdogs, but there are two matches, and they still need to come to Dortmund. I think we have chances to reach the semi-finals."

Last season's Champions League finalists Dortmund are eighth in the Bundesliga after their 4-1 win over Freiburg on Saturday, with their hopes of returning to Europe's premier club competition in 2025-26 in doubt.

They will be without centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, who is out for the rest of the season after suffering a meniscus tear in his left knee. Pascal Gross will also be out due to suspension.

"We know the attacking power we will come up against tomorrow," Kovac added. "We have to be disciplined. They are extremely strong in and around the box. 

"They have a lot of strengths, but every opponent has weaknesses, and we want to use them. It would not be wise to say what we have planned, but we have an idea."

Kovac added he had not given any thought to Barca's chances of winning every trophy on offer to them this season.

"I cannot imagine that Hansi [Flick] is talking about winning the treble," he continued. "I know him. He is from Swabia; he is down-to-earth and focuses on his work. We will not talk about three titles.

"We came here to win the game and if it is a good result, we will be happy to leave with it."