The second leg of the 2024/25 Champions League playoff between Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and Sporting (Portugal) will take place on February 19 at Signal Iduna Park. The first match ended 3-0 in favor of Borussia Dortmund. Borussia Dortmund vs. Sporting: prediction, betting odds, and statistics.
Borussia Dortmund
The German club made a strong statement for reaching the round of 16 by thrashing Sporting 3-0 in the first match. Notably, Dortmund's attacking leader, Serhou Guirassy, has contributed to goals in ten consecutive Champions League matches. Borussia has secured their sixth victory in the current tournament, scoring at least three goals in five of those games.
- Dortmund opened the scoring in 8 of their last 9 Champions League games.
- At home, Borussia has won 6 of their last 7 Champions League matches.
- In 13 of their last 15 home games in this tournament, the team has conceded no more than one goal.
Predicted lineup for Borussia Dortmund (4-5-1)
Gregor Kobel – Daniel Svensson, Nico Schlotterbeck, Waldemar Anton, Julian Ryerson – Karim Adeyemi, Marcel Sabitzer, Julian Brandt, Pascal Gross, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens – Serhou Guirassy.
Midfielder Felix Nmecha is injured.
Sporting
After the first playoff match, the team extended their winless streak in the Champions League to five games (1 draw, 4 losses). For the first time during this period, the Portuguese side failed to score. To advance to the round of 16, Sporting needs to win by at least four goals in regular time. If they defeat Dortmund by exactly three goals, extra time will be required. Notably, in the current Champions League campaign, the team has already achieved such a margin by defeating Manchester City 4-1.
- At least three goals have been scored in 5 of Sporting's last 6 Champions League matches.
- Away from home in this tournament, the club has not won in 7 of their last 9 matches (3 draws, 4 losses).
- Both teams scored in 5 of Sporting's last 6 away games in the Champions League.
Predicted lineup for Sporting (4-5-1)
Rui Silva – Maximiliano Araujo, Ivan Fresneda, Ousmane Diomande, Goncalo Inacio – Ricardo Esgaio, Alexandre Brito, Joao Simoes, Matheus Reis, Konrad Harder – Biel.
Midfielders Jeni Catamo, Daniel Braganca, Hidemasa Morita, and Pedro Goncalves, defender Jerry St. Juste, as well as forwards Viktor Gyokeres, Nuno Santos, and Francisco Trincao are injured.
Referee
Davide Massa (Italy)
Matches – 9 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 25;
Average yellow cards per match – 2.8;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 18;
Penalties – 11%.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Sporting: Match Prediction
Sporting needs a heroic performance to convincingly defeat Dortmund away. However, Sporting has struggled on the road in the Champions League, and Signal Iduna Park remains nearly impregnable for Borussia's opponents.
At home, the Germans have not lost in 14 of their last 15 Champions League matches (10 wins, 4 draws). Borussia's home matches in the current tournament have been particularly high-scoring, with a total of 18 goals in 4 games. Additionally, Dortmund has scored at least three goals in 4 of their last 5 Champions League games.
Sporting, on the other hand, is on a 5-match winless streak in the Champions League, during which they have conceded fewer than two goals only once. Away, the Portuguese have won just one of their last six matches in Europe's main tournament (2 draws, 3 losses), but they have scored in all these encounters.
My prediction: Borussia Dortmund will not lose and Total over 2.5 goals
