Sporting Lisbon Slight Favorite in Champions League Clash
After crushing Borussia Dortmund in the last fixture, Ajax is one point away from winning Champions League’s Group C. That leaves the German side and Sporting Lisbon with only one option: finishing in second place. Third place will have to settle for the UEFA Europa League.
The winner of Wednesday’s match will have to wait until the last fixture to secure a spot in the Round of 16. However, being in the front seat would be great. Let’s check the latest news, stats, injury reports, and soccer betting lines for Sporting Lisbon vs Borussia Dortmund.
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Location: Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon
Time: Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET
TV: beIN Sports
Live Stream: fuboTV
UEFA Champions League Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Over/Under | Team Total |
| Sporting Lisbon | Pk -125 | +155 | 2½ Evo | 1½ +130o/-160u |
| Borussia Dortmund | Pk +105 | +190 | 2½ -120u | 1½ +155o/-190u |
| Draw | +235 |
Head to Head
- Previous Matches: 3
- Sporting Lisbon Victories: 0 (1 goal)
- Borussia Dortmund Victories: 3 (4 goals)
- Draws: 0
The first leg ended with a 1-0 victory for Borussia Dortmund. No, Erling Haaland didn’t score the winning goal, it was Donyell Malen, who usually is Haaland’s backup. Sporting Lisbon had several opportunities to tie the game, but their aiming was off.
The total went under 2½ goals in two of their previous three encounters. Both scored in only one, another UCL matchup during the 2016-17 season.
Now or Never
Sporting Lisbon is a powerhouse in Portugal, but not so much in Europe. Don’t get me wrong, they deserve a lot of respect. The thing is that it has been a while since they put up a good fight in the UCL.
That could change with a victory over Dortmund. Right now, the Portuguese side sits in third place with six points, nine goals for and seven against. They’ve scored five more goals than Dortmund, but whoever wins the series will finish on top.
Most recently, they crushed Besiktas twice by an 8-1 aggregate. That proves we’re talking about a very talented team.
Playing at home will definitely boost their confidence. They own a 9-1-1 record in all competitions, scored in all matches and finished with a clean sheet six times. You know what they say, the perfect formula is to win at home and draw on the road.
Sebastian Coates won’t be available due to injury. The central defender will be missed but Sporting Lisbon’s focus should be on offense. Pedro Goncalves is on fire, scoring in their last three consecutive matches. Actually, he’s the main reason for you to consider including them in your soccer picks.
No Haaland
Borussia Dortmund is not the same without Haaland, who is out due to injury. I believe the Norwegian is already thinking about next season, after a huge new deal with a European powerhouse, of course.
He’ll be missed, but Dortmund can’t afford to lose and they still have a very competitive squad. Let’s not forget about Thomas Meunier, Marco Reus, Julian Brandt, Thorgan Hazard, Jude Bellingham and Malen. We’re talking about a well-balanced team.
To be honest, we’re also talking about a hit-and-miss betting online option when playing on the road. They own a 4-0-4 record, scoring in all games but two and finishing with a clean sheet only once.
The good news is that last weekend they beat Stuttgart 2-1 in the Bundesliga. Reus and Malen scored, boosting the entire team’s confidence.
Center back Mats Hummels is suspended, so he won’t be available. Pretty much like Sporting Lisbon, their focus should be on offense. To be more specific, on figuring out how to replace Haaland’s scoring share.
Not qualifying to the Round of 16 would be a disaster for Dortmund. That’s why you can be sure they’ll go all-in.
Final Analysis, Predictions
Despite having Haaland unavailable, I think Borussia Dortmund is more than capable of putting up a good fight. That’s why our football prediction includes a draw, both teams to score, and the total to go over. Regarding the home side, I expect Goncalves to have a huge game. He’s also seeking a new lucrative contract.
If you want to increase your winning chances, be sure to check the props for this and other games. Our score prediction is offering a +1100 price, while both to score in the first half is +325. Take it.
Score Prediction: Sporting Lisbon 2, Borussia Dortmund 2
