Sporting Lisbon vs. Borussia Dortmund | Champions League | Knockout Playoffs | 1st Leg | Pre Match

Still winless in the Champions League since the departure of Ruben Amorim, Sporting Lisbon welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Estadio Jose Alvalade for Tuesday's playoff first leg. This encounter marks a critical moment for both clubs, each navigating significant transitions as they strive for continental glory. For Sporting, the post-Amorim era has been fraught with inconsistency, while Dortmund are attempting to rediscover their identity under new management.

Four places and 13 points separated the two clubs in the league phase table, as BVB came within a whisker of a top-eight finish while their hosts only just kept their continental adventure going. Sporting’s campaign has been a tale of two halves; a promising start saw them collect 10 points from their opening four fixtures, but a sharp decline followed. Without a victory in their last four matches of the group stage, they barely managed to scrape through, thanks to a slender goal-difference advantage over their rivals.

As erstwhile manager Amorim struggles to turn Manchester United's fortunes around, Sporting have also seen their powers fade since the exit of the 40-year-old, who was seemingly the glue that held everything together at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. His successor, Rui Borges, has faced an uphill battle in steadying the ship, but recent performances suggest signs of resilience. The dramatic 1-1 draw against Bologna on matchday eight epitomized their struggles, yet it was enough to secure a playoff spot. In that game, 19-year-old Danish forward Conrad Harder played the role of savior, netting a crucial equalizer to extend Sporting’s European journey.

New boss Rui Borges has been able to steady the ship slightly, though, and Sporting were mere moments away from a hard-fought win over Primeira Liga rivals Porto in Friday's blockbuster clash, only for the Dragons to equalize in the fourth minute of second-half injury time. That match also saw Sporting reduced to nine men, further highlighting their disciplinary woes. With emotions still raw from that frustrating draw, the Lisbon giants now turn their attention to a competition where they desperately need to rediscover their winning touch.

Reeling from that gut-wrenching stalemate - where they also finished the game with nine men - Sporting now make a welcome return to their Alvalade headquarters, where they are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all tournaments and have only dropped points against Bologna in that time. Their home form has been the bedrock of their season, providing a much-needed sanctuary amidst their struggles elsewhere. However, their resilience will be severely tested by a Dortmund side capable of brilliance on their day.

Also adjusting to life with a new face at the helm, Borussia Dortmund were under the wing of Nuri Sahin's temporary successor - Mike Tullberg - for their most recent Champions League contest, where Serhou Guirassy was at the double in a 3-1 success over Shakhtar Donetsk. That result was one of Dortmund’s strongest performances of the campaign, demonstrating their attacking firepower while exposing lingering defensive vulnerabilities. However, consistency remains elusive for the German side, a problem that has plagued them throughout the season.

With five wins and three losses on their record from the league phase, Dortmund pipped 2023-24 final foes Real Madrid to a top-10 finish in the league phase, although it was the top eight positions that last season's beaten finalists had their sights set on. Falling short of automatic qualification was a bitter pill to swallow, but the Black and Yellows are now presented with a fresh opportunity to advance. That said, their domestic struggles have cast doubt over their ability to compete at the highest level.

Since last taking to the field in Europe, BVB have welcomed ex-Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac into the dugout, but his reign got off to the worst possible start; Dortmund suffered a 2-1 home loss to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday, their fifth defeat from eight in all tournaments. Kovac's appointment was intended to bring stability and a winning mentality to the squad, but early indications suggest that Dortmund are still grappling with the same issues that have plagued them all season.

Languishing in the bottom half of the German top-flight table, Dortmund have their lack of defensive discipline to blame for their predicament, as Saturday's loss to Stuttgart made it 13 games without a clean sheet across all competitions since easing past Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 in November. Their defensive frailties have become a significant concern, overshadowing their attacking exploits. Despite their prolific goal-scoring record in Europe, they have been unable to find the right balance between attack and defense.

On the other side of the coin, 22 goals scored in the UCL league phase was the second-best attacking record behind Barcelona's 28, offering an out-of-sorts Dortmund a sliver of hope as they aim to avenge their 3-1 loss to Sporting from their last head-to-head in November 2021. Their attacking threat, spearheaded by Guirassy, remains their most potent weapon, and they will need to be at their clinical best to outgun Sporting. The first leg presents an opportunity to lay down a marker and establish control of the tie.

Sporting's stalemate with Bologna on the final league phase matchday saw Morten Hjulmand pick up his third yellow card of the tournament, and as bookings are not wiped until the quarter-finals, the Dane must serve a suspension this week. His absence is a significant blow to Sporting’s midfield stability, leaving Borges with a selection dilemma. Without Hjulmand’s presence, the hosts will need others to step up and fill the void.

Hjulmand joins Pedro Goncalves (muscle), Joao Simoes (unspecified), and Nuno Santos (ACL) on the Sporting sidelines for Tuesday's first leg, but even though Matheus Reis and Ousmane Diomande both saw red against Porto, they are fine to feature in the Champions League. Injuries and suspensions have disrupted Sporting’s rhythm, yet their resilience has kept them afloat. They will need every ounce of that fighting spirit against a Dortmund side desperate to make amends for their domestic struggles.

The teenage Harder also started up front on Friday evening following a thigh injury to Viktor Gyokeres, but the hosts' Swedish sensation should be drafted back into the starting lineup on Tuesday, where he seeks to build on an astounding record of 34 goals from as many matches this season. Gyokeres has been Sporting’s talisman, and his return to the XI will provide a massive boost. His ability to find the back of the net could prove decisive in what promises to be a closely contested tie.

Meanwhile, Dortmund's deadline-day signing Carney Chukwuemeka was unable to make his debut for the German giants against Stuttgart after suffering a knock to the knee in training, and his availability for Tuesday's first leg is also up in the air. His potential absence would deprive Dortmund of a dynamic midfield option, but the visitors are not short on talent. Felix Nmecha remains unavailable due to a knee issue, further limiting Kovac’s choices.

However, the Chelsea loanee is just one of two fitness concerns for the visitors, who are also missing Felix Nmecha (knee) for another few weeks but otherwise have a clean bill of health. This means that Dortmund will still be able to field a strong lineup, particularly in attack, where Guirassy continues to shine. His prowess in front of goal has been a rare bright spot for the German outfit, and he will be aiming to etch his name into the record books.

Matching Robert Lewandowski with a tournament-high nine goals in the league phase, Guirassy could now join the Pole and Erling Haaland as just the third Dortmund player to score as many as 10 goals in one Champions League season; no BVB player has ever managed 11 in a single campaign. With history beckoning, Guirassy will be keen to deliver on the biggest stage. If he can maintain his prolific form, Dortmund will have every chance of progressing. However, they must first overcome a resilient Sporting side eager to defy the odds.