Barca's Sensational Trio on Fire Again, Keeps Treble Hopes Alive

Lewandowski, Yamal, and Raphinha Have Scored 82 of Barca's 144 Goals This Season in All Competitions

- Dhiman Sarkar

KOLKATA: The commentators spoke of a mild Catalan evening, but Gregor Kobel would have found the conditions far from pleasant. Ditto Borussia Dortmund's left back Ramy Bensebaini.

By the time Lamine Yamal had drawn a save from Kobel after drifting inside and shooting across goal after beating Bensebaini on the outside, only four minutes had passed of this Champions League first-leg quarter-final. Soon, Robert Lewandowski would test Kobel after Raphinha and Pedri combined to find him. Six minutes in, and Barcelona had got into scoring positions thrice.

This felt similar to narrations of how Brazil had started against the USSR in the 1958 World Cup; Garrincha shredding opposition to ribbons.

Lev Yashin's shirt was soaked in sweat as if he had been playing for hours, Ney Bianchi had written. The greatest three minutes in the history of football was Gabriel Hanot's verdict. Both accounts were reproduced in Ruy Castro's biography of Garrincha.

Lewandowski's brace and a goal each from Raphinha and Yamal lit up the evening; the 4-0 win keeping Barcelona's quest for a treble alive. The trio has 82 goals in all competitions this season. Borussia Dortmund have 81.