Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Simply looking to finish off the job and extend on their Champions League adventure, Borussia Dortmund will welcome Sporting Lisbon to rural Germany on Wednesday evening.
Borussia Dortmund
Starting with the hosts, while Borussia Dortmund might have endured a public Bundesliga crisis this year, the German giants laid down a real European marker last week. Putting in what was arguably a season-best display in Lisbon as they stormed their way to a sensational 3-0 romp, Niko Kovac’s side will simply be looking for a repeat performance on Wednesday evening. However, although BVB might be sat firmly in the driving seat when they return to rural Germany here, Dortmund have continued to show some glaring issues on home soil. Last seen at Signal Iduna Park falling to a 2-1 loss against Stuttgart, the former Monaco boss has seen his squad muster just a single victory from any of their previous seven showdowns in front of their own supporters – a rut that stems all the way back to November 23rd.
Borussia Dortmund Team News
Borussia Dortmund have already confirmed that the duo of Felix Nmecha and Filippo Mane on Wednesday evening. Likewise, missing out away at Bochum over the weekend and failing to find any kind of stability since arriving from Chelsea on a loan switch last month, Carney Chukwuemeka remains a doubt.
Finding the net in Lisbon last week and remarkably notching 10 goals in his nine Champions League appearances this season, Serhou Guirassy will play a leading role in the final third. Eventually staying put in rural German following the January transfer window, Karim Adeyemi will join Guirassy in attack.
Sporting Lisbon
As for the visitors, while sporting Lisbon might still be leading the chase at the top of the Primeira Liga table, the Portuguese heavyweights are enduring what has been a public rut. Putting in a woeful performance at the Estadio Jose Alvalade last week as they slumped to a 3-0 drumming at home against Dortmund, the Lions are seeking what would be an iconic Champions League miracle here. Failing to claim a much-welcomed boost over the weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 2-2 stalemate at home against Arouca, Rui Borges’ camp are desperately searching for some kind of stability. Mustering just two wins from any of their previous seven appearances across all competitions, Sporting Lisbon have also shown some glaring issues on the road. In fact, Wednesday’s guests have registered just a sole victory on their travels since returning from November’s international break.
Sporting Lisbon Team News
Not making a single appearance since the end of October and still dealing with a long-term knee injury, Sporting Lisbon will once again be without Portuguese striker Nuno Santos on Wednesday night. However, serving a one-match suspension last week, Danish international Morten Hjulmand will return to Borges’ squad.
Enjoying what has been another record-breaking flurry this season and already notching six Champions League strikes, Viktor Gyokeres will spearhead Lisbon’s attack. Attracting plenty of European interest this season, Ousmane Diomande will start at the heart of Borges’ defence.
Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting Lisbon Key Factors to Consider
- When Borussia Dortmund and Sporting Lisbon met for their first-leg showdown last week, BVB collected a thumping 3-0 victory on foreign soil.
- However, Dortmund have remarkably recorded just a single win from any of their previous seven home fixtures across all competitions.
- Likewise, the Lions have recorded just a sole win from any of their last seven showdowns away from the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
- Sporting Lisbon have recorded just a pair of clean sheets from any of their last nine matchups across all competitions.
- Serhou Guirassy has registered 10 goals in his nine Champions League appearances this season.
Conclusion
Storming their way to what was a sensational 3-0 victory over in Portugal last week, Borussia Dortmund are simply searching for a repeat performance here. However, despite being sat firmly in the driving seat on Wednesday evening, the German giants have continued to show some glaring issues on home soil. It should be noted, with BVB seeing all of their previous seven consecutive showdowns at Signal Iduna Park finish with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome in midweek.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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