Exciting Showdown Ahead: A Sneak Peek at Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund Match!

This Tuesday, Borussia Dortmund faces Sporting CP in a crucial Champions League match. It’s Niko Kovač’s second game at the helm following a tough 1-2 loss to VfB Stuttgart. Both teams need to step up to secure their place in the Last 16.

Team Performance

Dortmund was close to going through the group stage easily but missed out by a single point. They finished significantly stronger than Sporting in the league, sitting well ahead of them. Sporting has struggled since Ruben Amorim left for Manchester United, failing to win in the Champions League since his departure.

Sporting has done well in the domestic league, holding onto the top spot in Liga Portugal. However, Dortmund is trying to recover from a rough patch, currently positioned 11th in the Bundesliga. In fact, a supercomputer has only given them a 5.1% chance of finishing in the top four.

Current Form

It’s interesting to note that while Dortmund has been more stable in the Champions League, Sporting has been stronger in their domestic games. Sporting is currently unbeaten at home in their last seven matches, making them a tough opponent.

Injury and Availability Updates

Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund might see the return of Carney Chukwuemeka, who missed the last game due to a training injury. However, they will be without Ramy Benebaini, who is dealing with a muscle strain. This could allow Daniel Svensson to debut in the Champions League. Felix Nmecha will also be sidelined for a few more weeks due to a knee issue.

Sporting CP

On the Sporting side, they’ll miss Morten Hjulmand due to suspension. Other notable absences include Pedro Goncalves, Joao Simoes, and Nuno Santos, all injured. Matheus Reis and Ousmane Diomande are back from suspension and could play a critical role, while Viktor Gyokeres might start after coming off the bench in their last match.

As both teams prepare to clash, it promises to be a tight match with each side hoping to turn their fortunes around. A draw wouldn’t be surprising, keeping the battle alive for the second leg in Dortmund next week.