Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Borussia Dortmund
Match Time & Date:
19/02/2025
18:45
Prediction: 2-1
Sporting
Borussia Dortmund will be looking to defend their three-goal lead in the tie with Sporting CP when the two teams face each other at Signal-Iduna-Park on Wednesday evening. The Yellow-Blacks are with one foot in the last 16, but boss Niko Kovac must warn his men against complacency as they failed to impress in a 2-0 loss to Bochum at the weekend. Defender Julian Ryerson is back from the Bundesliga ban, while the likes of Bensebaini, Chukwuemeka, and Nmecha remain in the recovery room.
The Lions, on the other hand, face an uphill task in the return leg. As Sporting CP have no other choice but to go all guns blazing at Borussia Dortmund, we predict that the hosts are going to seal the victory on the break. Both Geny Catamo and Nuno Santos are out of contention with injuries for the away team, while midfielder Pedro Goncalves is a major doubt.
Highlighted Player (Julian Brandt):
Julian Brandt is one of the most promising wingers in Germany. He started playing football in his hometown, Bremen, at SC Borgfeld, moving to FC Oberneuland, after which he joined VLF Wolfsburg’s youth academy. With 27 goals in his 48 games during two seasons with the Wolves, Brandt recommended himself to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, signing a five-and-a-half-year contract in January 2014.
The 22-year-old winger prefers to play on the left flank, but he can also provide help on the right side, as well as an attacking midfielder. During the season 2015/2016, Julian Brandt netted goals in six consecutive games, becoming the youngest player since Gerd Muller to achieve this.
The good performances in the season made Joackim Low call the youngster in Germany’s preliminary 27-man squad for the Euro 2016 and he made his first appearance for the senior squad in May 2016, against Slovakia. He was a part of the Germany squad at the Summer Olympics, where Brandt and his teammates won the silver medal. In the summer of 2018, Julian Brandt made the World Cup team.
Highlighted Team (Sporting):
When it comes to official club members, Portugal giants Sporting Lisbon are the sixth club in the world. Commonly referred to as Leoes which is Portuguese for Lions, Sporting Lisbon were founded in 1906 and are one of the founders of the Primeira Liga.
Sporting’s main rivals are Benfica, with both teams contesting the Lisbon Derby, one of the most fierce ones in Europe. Lions play their games at Estadio Jose Alvelade in front of 50,000 people and are the third most successful club in the country with 46 titles in Portuguese competitions and a title in the European Cup Winner’s Cup from 1963-64.
During this time that is also known as the club’s golden years, Sporting Lisbon won the majority of their 18 Primeira Liga titles in total. Sporting Lisbon boasts the quality football youth academy system which has yielded world-class footballers such as Paulo Furte, Simao Sabrosa, Nani and Ballon d’Or winners Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo.
AS Roma 
Porto
Betis 
Gent
Galatasaray 
AZ
Ajax
St Gilloise 
Anderlecht 
Fenerbahce
Real Sociedad
Midtjylland 
