Overview
After appointing Niko Kovac as head coach to replace Mike Tullberg, Dortmund has yet to show signs of improvement in form. They have even lost 2 consecutive matches in the Bundesliga arena.
However, in the context of unstable competition, Dortmund unexpectedly won 3-0 against Sporting CP right on the away field. This victory almost helped them get into the round of 16 of the Champions League.
With a big gap and the second leg playing at home, Dortmund can calculate to save energy for a few key players. Despite losing 2 home matches in the League Phase, the pressure of 80,000 spectators at Signal Iduna Park is always a great spiritual support for the Ruhr team.
For Sporting CP, being a visitor at Signal Iduna Park at this time is a very difficult task. They have lost both times they have visited here in history.
In addition, Sporting are also playing extremely disappointingly in recent matches in the Champions League. The peak was a 3-0 defeat to Dortmund in the first leg. This is considered an inevitable result after coach Ruben Amorim left in the middle of the season.
Sporting currently do not have any advantage to compare with Dortmund in the second leg. The most likely goal for coach Rui Borges' team is probably to find an honorary goal, before focusing on Liga Portugal for the rest of the season.
Personnel situation
Dortmund hosted Sporting Lisbon at home amid a four-man injury absence, including Nmecha, Chukwuemeka, Mane and Bensebaini.
On the other side of the front line, Sporting Lisbon is in a heavy crisis due to injuries with the absence of St.Juste, Pote, Morita, Nuno Santos and Braganca.
Expected lineup:
Dortmund: Kobel, Ryerson, Can, Scholotterbeck, Svensson, Sabitzer, Gross, Adeyemi, Brandt, Gittens, Guirassy.
Sporting Lisbon: Rui Silva, Reis, Esgaio, Diomande,esneda, Simones, Debast, Araujo, Trincao, Quenda, Gyokeres.
The match between Dortmund and Sporting takes place at 0:45 am on February 20 (Vietnam time).
