Luis Suarez, Leo Messi and Antoine Griezmann sealed a comfortable 3-1 win for Barcelona over Dortmund at the Camp Nou. Jadon Sancho got a late consolation and then hit the bar late on and now it is not in their own hands on the last day.
Barcelona are through to the last 16 of the Champions League and have topped their group after a comfortable 3-1 win over Dortmund. It was no contest at the Camp Nou as Valverde's men were far too strong for their opponents.
Dortmund gave Barca a massive scare in the first minute after an error from Rakitic. Reus ran down the middle of the field and he fed Achraf whose shot was saved by Ter Stegen and the German goalie also denied Schulz from the follow-up. From then on though, it was easy for Barca. They dominated possession and territory while the Germans were kept well away from the Barca net.
Suarez thought he had scored in the 22nd minute, but he was slightly offside as Messi passed him the ball. They did not have to wait long though to make it 1-0. Seven minutes later, Suarez was not to be denied. De Jong's passed to Suarez, his first pass to Dembele was cut out, but Messi then played a perfectly timed pass for the Uruguayan and he slotted it through Burki's legs. Four minutes later, it was two after Hummels stupidly lost the ball in his own half and Messi scored following a one-two with Luis Suarez.
Luis Suarez then tried to chip the keeper in the 38th minute, but it went over the bar and Achraf fired one over from the distance. The half ended in comical fashion as French referee Clement Turpin was struck in the face from close range by Luis Suarez leaving his face visibly red from the impact.
In the second half, Roman Burki made a great save to prevent Griezmann making it three and then Messi was booked for diving after going down despite not making contact with the keeper. 11 minutes later though, Dortmund nearly got back in it after Brandt shot at goal and Ter Stegen had to make a sensational stop from close range. That was Dortmund's chance and they did not take it.
Messi headed wide Sergi Roberto's cross four minutes later before Griezmann killed off the contest midway through the second half. Messi made a lovely run down the middle and Griezmann just had to hit home with his left foot. Messi made that goal and it nearly got worse for Lucien Favre's men as Messi struck the bar from a free-kick 15 minutes from time.
Dortmund did get one back two minutes later though substitute Jordan Sancho. Guerreiro passed to Brandt who gave it to Sancho and the Englishman made no mistake in front of goal. The VAR had to give it the all clear as Brandt was close to being offside, but it was legal. In fact, the away side ended the game strongly having 72% possession in the last 15 minutes and Sancho nearly made it 3-2 10 minutes later, but Ter Stegen tipped it onto the bar.
Akanji failed to hit the target seconds after Sancho's bar shot and then the final whistle sounded just a few minutes later. Barca fully deserved the victory and have finished top of group F while Dortmund have dropped to third after Inter's win in Prague over Slavia. Inter and Dortmund are both on seven points, but the Italians have a better head to head record so Dortmund do not have it in their own hands on the last day in two weeks time.