Achraf Hakimi: Dortmund's goal-scoring 'weapon' for under-fire Favre

Borussia Dortmund hope goal-scoring defender Achraf Hakimi will again be their Champions League "weapon" to shoot down Barcelona on Wednesday and relieve pressure on under-fire coach Lucien Favre.

With two group games left, a last 16 place is still firmly in the hands of the Germans, who sit a point behind pool leaders Barcelona, thanks to Hakimi's two goals in a stunning 3-2 home win over Inter Milan three weeks ago.

However, dreadful Bundesliga results in the meantime leave Favre needing a good performance in Barcelona to safeguard his job, putting the onus on Madrid-born Hakimi and his team-mates to turn things around at Barcelona's Camp Nou.

Hakimi, who joined on loan from Real Madrid in July 2018, has been a regular starter under Favre at Dortmund. He has scored nine goals and set up 10 more in 47 matches as either a full-back on either flank or even up front as a winger.

He has scored four of Dortmund's five Champions League goals, dazzling by scoring twice out of position on the left wing in October's 2-0 win at Slavia Prague, where club captain Marco Reus described him as "a weapon" in Dortmund's attacking armour.

"He's incredibly fast. From that point of view, he's always a weapon," said Reus.

Having proved his versatility in Prague, Hakimi celebrated his 21st birthday with another two goals - this time from full-back - in the come-back win over Inter as Dortmund came from two goals down.

- 'Hats off' -
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"That confidence is what allows you to express yourself and play with freedom. I'm now a different Achraf."
- Impact off bench -
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