Borussia Dortmund take commanding first-leg lead over Sporting CP

Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy played a starring role in his team's emphatic 3-0 victory over Sporting in their Champions League playoff first leg on Tuesday, scoring one goal and setting up another to put last year's finalists firmly in control of their bid for a spot in the last 16. Dortmund, determined to make a deep run in the competition once again, showcased their quality and composure under pressure, bouncing back from their domestic struggles to claim a vital first-leg advantage.

Guirassy, the top scorer in this season's Champions League, broke the deadlock on the hour mark with a well-timed header, notching his 10th goal of the campaign and silencing the home crowd. The Guinea international then turned provider just eight minutes later, delivering a perfectly weighted cross for Pascal Gross, who made no mistake in doubling Dortmund's lead with a well-struck volley from close range. With Sporting now on the ropes, the German side capitalized further in the 82nd minute, executing a lightning-fast, five-touch counter-attack that culminated in Karim Adeyemi slotting home the third goal of the night. The clinical performance marked a winning European debut for Niko Kovac, who took charge of the team just last week and had endured a disappointing Bundesliga debut with a loss to VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.

Dortmund's domestic form has been a cause for concern, with the team currently languishing in 11th place and at risk of missing out on Champions League qualification for next season. The victory in Portugal, however, provided a much-needed confidence boost, with Kovac acknowledging the importance of the result while stressing the need for continued improvement. "You cannot come here and dominate against Sporting, but in the first half we were far too slow," he said. "After the break, we increased the speed and scored great goals. I was happy to see that physical commitment. To play here like that is not easy."

Sporting started the match on the front foot, applying early pressure and coming agonizingly close to taking the lead. Maxi Araujo nearly gave the hosts an advantage with a powerful drive that rattled the crossbar, while Conrad Harder forced Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel into a smart save in the 35th minute. Despite their attacking intent, Sporting failed to capitalize on their chances, and Dortmund took full advantage in the second half. The visitors did not register a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes, but their first real opportunity in the 55th minute nearly yielded a goal, as Adeyemi's low drive was blocked by Rui Silva. Moments later, Guirassy finally broke through with a looping header that left the keeper with no chance, shifting the momentum in Dortmund's favor.

As the Germans continued to apply pressure, Sporting struggled to respond, and Dortmund’s second goal effectively deflated the home side. Guirassy's pinpoint delivery from the wing found Gross, who finished clinically to extend the lead. With Sporting now chasing the game, they found themselves increasingly vulnerable at the back, and Dortmund took full advantage with their third goal, a masterclass in counter-attacking football. Adeyemi’s composed finish in the 82nd minute sealed a crucial away victory, leaving Sporting with a near-impossible task in the return leg.

Sporting coach Rui Borges lamented his team's inability to maintain their intensity after falling behind. "After the goal, our spirits dropped, and we felt it physically," he admitted. "We weren't very proactive, and we lost our collective balance. The result ends up being unfair. We let the game go the way Borussia like it." His side had hoped to turn the tide by introducing the Portuguese league’s top striker, Viktor Gyökeres, but even his presence failed to inspire a breakthrough against Dortmund’s resolute defense.

With the return leg set for next week, Dortmund hold a commanding advantage, and barring a dramatic collapse, they look poised to book their place in the last 16. Sporting will need a near-perfect performance at Signal Iduna Park to overturn the deficit, but given Dortmund’s current form in Europe, the task appears insurmountable. Meanwhile, Kovac and his players will be keen to carry this momentum into their domestic campaign as they prepare for a tough Bundesliga clash against VfL Bochum on Saturday. The win in Portugal has provided a much-needed lift, but Dortmund know that the battle is far from over if they are to achieve success on multiple fronts this season.