Three Takeaways from Dortmund’s statement 3-nil win against Sporting

In an unexpected turn of events, the Black-and-Yellows defeated Sporting Lisbon 3–0 in Portugal, moving them closer to the round of 16.

With a poor season so far, Borussia Dortmund’s fans have had few reasons to be excited lately.

With a formidable opponent in Sporting Lisbon, it’s safe to assume that most BVB fans didn’t

believe Dortmund could win an away game in the Champions League playoffs. In what was widely regarded as a head-to-head contest, the Black-and-Yellows surprised everyone by winning 3–0 in Portugal!

However, the scoreboard does not provide the full picture of this match. In a highly uneven first

half, Borussia Dortmund struggled to create chances, while Sporting appeared to be taking control

of the game. The midfield was by far the most concerning, appearing vulnerable in duels and giving

the Portuguese an advantage in terms of muscle and spatial control.

In the second half, the tables turned. The players moved more deliberately and effectively through

the space, using overloads in the flanks to build momentum and capitalise on counters. They also appeared more motivated, with a desire for the outcome. I’m not sure what Niko Kovač said at the halftime address, but it clearly worked.

Guirassy, Groß, and Adeyemi scored to help Borussia Dortmund secure a huge victory in the opening

leg of the playoffs. The Black-and-Yellows now return to Signal Iduna Park on February 19th for the second leg, and even a two-nil defeat would not be enough to knock BVB out of the round of 16.

Here are three thoughts from Dortmund’s statement victory over Sporting:

Get more related news on: https://sportviewers.com