Dortmund faces a decisive champions League duel against Sporting!

Dortmund faces a decisive champions League duel against Sporting!

on February 19, 2025 at 6:45 p.m. Borussia Dortmund meets Sporting CP in Signal Iduna Park. This tension-charged duel takes place as part of the UEFA Champions League, Play-offs. The game is transmitted via DAZN.

The current form of Borussia Dortmund shows that the team won the first leg against Sporting CP 3-0. This performance is contrasting to the latest challenges in the Bundesliga, where Dortmund stayed without victory in the last two encounters and finally lost 0-2 against Bochum. Center-Back Nico Schlotterbeck expressed concerns that the team could experience a "horror season" if an improvement should not occur soon. In the last two league games, the Dortmunders only scored a single goal, which indicates the need to improve fundamental skills, such as winning duels, says Schlotterbeck [sportwetten.bild.de].

Sporting CPS setbacks

Sporting CP also struggles with difficulties and has remained without a win in the last three games. Finally, they separated 2-2 from Arouca, whereby they had to accept a dismissal for Morten Hjulmand. It also hooked in the Champions League because the team released the last two away games. With a heated situation at the top of the table, the encounter is reported on a critical point for both teams [sportts.yahoo.com].

The betting odds of the bookmakers see Dortmund as favorites with a probability of winning of 53%. The quota for Dortmund's victory is 4.93, while the quota for a success of Sporting is 11.25. An exciting forecast is that both teams meet in this game and more than 2.5 goals are scored [sportswetten.bild.de].

tactical considerations and lists

Dortmund demonstrated in the defensive stability by converting Emre Can to central defense. They are set up with a 4-2-3-1 formation, which is expected to include the following players: Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck, Marcel Sabitzer, Pascal Groß, Serhou Guirassy, ​​Karim Adeyemi and Jamie Bynoe-Gitten. Guirassy in particular has already demonstrated his potential in the first leg and met three of the last four Champions League home games.

Sporting CP will also start in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with players such as Rui Silva, Fresneda, St. Juste, Inácio, Araújo, Hjulmand, Simões, Trincão, Quenda, Pote and Gyökeres. However, some key players have to be replaced: The guest team lacks, among others, Daniel Braganca, Geny Catamo, Hidemasa Morita, Pedro Goncalves and Nuno Santos. Dortmund coaches Niko Kovac could also make some changes in his starting eleven, with Julian Ryerson and Salih Özcan used instead of Niklas Süle and Marcel Sabitzer [sports.yahoo.com]

direct comparison

The balance between Borussia Dortmund and Sporting CP clearly speaks for the German ball artists: Dortmund prevailed in four of the last five duels. Interestingly, the last three meetings were always decided in the first half. In addition, less than 3.5 goals were scored in four out of five games, which could indicate a potentially exciting but eventual game [sportwetten.bild.de].

For Dortmund, the upcoming game is a chance to qualify for the next round of the Champions League and to take the pressure from the negative Bundesliga results. The fans can therefore be excited about an intensive and decisive duel.