Sporting draws at Dortmund and is out of the Champions League
Rui Borges’ team drew in Germany, without being able to fight for qualification.
ANeeding an epic comeback in the playoff, Sporting were unable to avoid elimination from the Champions League this Wednesday, with a draw against Borussia Dortmund (0-0), after the heavy defeat in Alvalade (0-3) in the first leg .
In terms of management, the lions were always closer to conceding than scoring, so much so that Rui Silva was called to intervene on several occasions, with a penalty saved in the second half standing out, as a form of redemption.
Where have all the opportunities been?
Without Viktor Gyokeres and Francisco Trincão, due to management, Rui Borges ended up revolutionizing the starting eleven, with changes in all sectors, highlighting the debut of Biel Teixeira as a starter, given the complex mission of turning the tie around in Germany.
In a somewhat uneven first half for the Lions, Marcel Sabitzer positioned himself as one of the most restless units of the Germans and tested Rui Silva’s attention, while doubts hovered over the conditions of Morten Hjulmand and João Simões to remain on the field.
After Sporting’s medical team came on to the pitch, the Danish captain remained in the game until half-time, but the young midfielder was ‘forced’ to be replaced by Zeno Debast, which was yet another ‘headache’ for Rui Borges.
Inability to counter
After having launched Alexandre Brito to replace Hjulmand, Rui Borges would then bet on Maxi Araújo and Afonso Moreira, until a new setback arose.
Close to the hour mark, Rui Silva conceded a penalty on Adeyemi, but immediately redeemed himself by saving the penalty taken by Serhou Guirassy in the 59th minute, leaving the Sporting fans celebrating at Signal Iduna Park.
It was expected that this would be the reason for the lion to roar, but it only scared with a shot from Alexandre Brito, followed by a new period of supremacy for Borussia Dortmund, from a ball from Reyna to the post to Emre Can’s disallowed goal for offside.
Sporting also debuted Lucas Anjos and, only after that, Conrad Harder scored the first (and only) shot on target against Gregor Kobel, leaving them on the verge of the Champions League last 16.
Ours
Borussia Dortmund: Gregor Kobel, Ryerson, Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can, Daniel Svensson, Pascal Gross, Marcel Sabitzer, Karim Adeyemi, Julian Brandt, Jamie Gittens and Serhou Guirassy.
Sporting: Rui Silva, Ricardo Esgaio, Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Eduardo Quaresma, Matheus Reis, Joao Simões, Morten Hjulmand, Biel Teixeira, Geovany Qyenda and Conrad Harder.
Preview
Sporting hosts Borussia Dortmund this Wednesday, in a game counting towards the second leg of the playoff for access to the round of 16 of the Champions League, with the lions in ‘trouble’, after having lost 0-3 in the ‘first half’ at the Estádio de Alvalade.
The team led by Rui Borges will not have Viktor Gyokeres or Francisco Trincão up front, due to a technical decision, in order to manage the athletes’ efforts.
The recent series of results for the green and whites has not been the best, given that after the defeat in the first leg, they drew at home against Arouca (2-2).
Dortmund also failed to recover from their European hangover, as they went to Bochum, at the time bottom of the Bundesliga, and were defeated 2-0, a result that demonstrates the instability experienced by the club.
The history at this stadium for Sporting is not at all favorable and, to make matters worse for the Lions, they have a ‘mountain’ to climb to get back into the discussion for the round of 16 of the millionaire competition.
