Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
Despite a comfortable win in Lisbon (3:0), Borussia Dortmund continue to struggle with consistency under their new coaching staff. With a three-goal advantage, Niko Kovač is unlikely to take unnecessary risks, prioritising a defensive strategy to secure qualification.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund capitalised on Sporting's poor form in the first leg, but they only created 0.27 xG by half-time. Serhou Guirassy, the top scorer in the Champions League (10+3), remains a key attacking force, but his missed chances against Bochum (0:2) on Saturday highlighted inefficiency in front of goal. In that small Ruhr derby, Dortmund generated 2.47 xG but only managed two shots on target – a lack of sharpness that could affect them again.
Sporting
The Portuguese side are winless in four of their last five matches across all competitions, struggling to find inspiration from Viktor Gyökeres, whose form has dipped. Over the weekend, Sporting dropped points against Arouca (2:2) and suffered injuries to Jerry St. Juste and Daniel Bragança, two key players in their build-up play. Their away record has also been concerning, with three defeats in their last seven away matches and just one victory.
Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting Prediction
With Borussia Dortmund focused on maintaining their lead and Sporting lacking attacking confidence, a high-scoring game is unlikely. The hosts will prioritise defensive stability, while the visitors have little hope of turning the tie around.
