Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund

Estádio José Alvalade sets the stage for the first leg of an exciting Champions League playoff tie between Sporting CP and Borussia Dortmund.

Sporting CP defied Ruben Amorim’s departure for Manchester United in November to lock down a knockout berth for only the third time in ten attempts. However, Sporting’s fall from grace coincided with Amorim’s exit, with the Portuguese side going winless in four consecutive Champions League fixtures since their highly-rated manager’s transfer (D1, L3). Despite their troubled European record of late, Sporting head into proceedings as favorites, largely thanks to their formidable home form under new boss Rui Borges (W4, D1). Furthermore, they got the better of Borussia Dortmund in their last home meeting in the Champions League in 2021/22 (3-1). Those stats bode well as ‘Los Leoes’ aim to reach the round of 16 for the first time since 2008/09 amid a ten-game topsy-turvy patch (W5, D3, L2).

It’s not been a dream Champions League campaign for Borussia Dortmund (W5, L3), yet a 3-1 win against Shakhtar Donetsk at the end of the league phase put them through to the playoff round. After slumping to a 2-1 home defeat to fellow Bundesliga top-four rivals Stuttgart on his touchline debut, new manager Niko Kovac will be out for revenge, bidding to defy Dortmund’s see-saw away European form this season (W2, L2). That’s the least of Kovac’s problems, considering his charges have suffered a shocking nine defeats across their last 12 12 two-legged Champions League knockout ties (W2, D1). The Croat could turn those fortunes around after avoiding defeat in all six Champions League games in charge of Bayern Munich (W4, D2).