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February 10 2025, 10:44 · Alex Lawes

Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund Preview: Team News & Prediction

Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Portuguese champions Sporting CP have steadied themselves after the departure of Ruben Amorim ahead of their knockout playoff round against Borussia Dortmund this week.

Kick-off date/time: Tuesday 11th February, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – CBS Sports

How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Sporting CP Preview: Steady Sporting

Following the departure of Ruben Amorim to Manchester United in November, Joao Pereira took charge on an interim basis but they are now a month and a half into the tenure of Rui Borges as they continue to sit at the top-of-the-table in the Primeira Liga ahead of Benfica and Porto.

The Lions come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw with the aforementioned Porto at Estadio do Dragao at the weekend in a game in which they led until the 94th minute before conceding an equaliser and then having Mattheis Reis and Ousmane Diomande sent off.

Borussia Dortmund Preview: Underperforming Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund underperformed in the Bundesliga but reached the UEFA Champions League final last season and they are once again struggling domestically but have the chance to save their season to an extent in Europe’s elite club competition this year.

Nuri Sahin, who took charge last summer, has been replaced by former Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac in the last few weeks, but things have not improved as they come into this one on the back of a 2-1 defeat at home to Stuttgart last weekend in a result that flattered them.

Sporting CP Team News: Hjulmand suspended

The aforementioned Diomande and Reis are now both suspended domestically but are available for this one but Denmark international Morten Hjulmand will be unavailable for suspension, whilst both Pedro Goncalves and Nuno Santos are missing through injury.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Israel; Fresneda, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo; Quenda, Debast; Trincao, Braganca, Catamo; Gyokeres

Unavailable: Hjulmand (Suspended), Goncalves (Injured), Santos (Injured)

Questionable: 

Borussia Dortmund Team News: Couple of injuries

Chelsea loanee Carney Chukwuemeka, who joined at the end of the winter transfer window, has been included in their UEFA Champions League squad but he is missing through injury alongside Germany international Felix Nmecha.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Can, Anton, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Gross; Adeyemi, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy

Unavailable: Nmecha (Injured), Chukwuemeka (Injured)

Questionable: 

Key Stats

  • This is the fifth UEFA competition match between these two teams – all the previous four were in the Champions League group stage. Dortmund won both encounters in the 2016/17 edition and they recorded one victory each in the 2021/22 competition.
  • Sporting have won only two of their last 11 UEFA competition matches against German teams (D1 L8).
  • Sporting are without a win in their last four UEFA Champions League matches (D1 L3).
  • Sporting have not failed to score in their last 19 UEFA competition matches.
  • Sporting lost their previous two ties in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase. L 1-12 on aggregate vs Bayern, 2008/09 round of 16 (0-5 h, 1-7 a) and L 0-5 on aggregate vs Man. City, 2021/22 round of 16 (0-5 h, 0-0 a).
  • Sporting have won 33 of their last 38 competitive home matches (D3 L2).
  • Dortmund have won seven of their last nine UEFA competition matches against Portuguese teams (L2) despite a 3-1 defeat at Sporting in their most recent such fixture (November 2021, UEFA Champions League group stage).
  • Dortmund have won their previous three UEFA competition two-legged ties against Portuguese teams; most recently, a 4-1 aggregate victory against Benfica in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League round of 16 (0-1 a, 4-0 h).
  • Dortmund have won eight of their last 12 UEFA Champions League matches (L4).
  • Dortmund have only failed to score in one of their last 19 UEFA competition matches.
  • Serhou Guirassy has scored in Dortmund’s last four UEFA Champions League matches (six goals in the four matches).
  • Serhou Guirassy has scored 11 goals in his first 12 appearances in the UEFA Champions League proper. Only Erling Haaland (16 goals) scored more in his first 12 appearances. Adriano and Sébastien Haller also scored 11.

Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund Prediction

Sporting, as mentioned, endured a shaky run of form during the interim management of Joao Pereira but they are expected to cruise towards the end of the season now things are a little stable with the winter window shut. Borussia Dortmund are expected to improve following the departure of Sahin but their 2-1 defeat at home to a strong Stuttgart side at the weekend will mean the pressure grows on the visitors. At the Jose Alvalade, a double chance bet in favour of Sporting looks the way to go for this one.

Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund Tip: Double chance – Sporting CP to win or draw

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