Sporting vs Borussia Dortmund: Battle for a playoff place

Rapidly-ranked Ajax have made the playoffs in Group C, while Sporting and Borussia Dortmund are joint title contenders. Who will be stronger in their head-to-head encounter? We will list the teams’ forms and advise you what to bet on.

Sporting suffered a dramatic defeat at the hands of Ajax in the first leg of the Champions League, which ended with a 5-1 defeat. The team lost to Borussia in the second leg, but only by one goal (0-1). However, the Portuguese team showed themselves in style twice in the third and fourth legs, beating Besiktas (first 4-1 and then 4-0). Sporting are in third place in Group C with six points, and tonight, as we have already mentioned, is the most important match for them.

Borussia are in second place in the Group C table, also with six points. But they are facing a relatively modest Besiktas in the final round, so, on the whole, they will be fine with a draw in this game (but it is, of course, a game with fire). The Germans started in the Champions League, first beating Besiktas 2-1 and then Sporting (1-0). However, in the last two rounds, Borussia managed to get to Ajax with a total failure (0-4 and 1-3 defeats).

The bookies don’t see favorites in this encounter, and we agree with them. Both teams need a win because, by and large, tonight is the day to decide the playoffs. Of course, the class of Borussia is higher than Sporting, but the Portuguese club will be backed by the home stadium and the home support, and the Bumblebees will be without many key players (Haaland, Hummels, and Hazard). There is no doubt that the opponents will fight like it’s the last time, and no one will roll the ball across the pitch to keep the scoreline down. On this basis, it seems logical to bet on goalscoring.

• Total Over (2.5) for 1.72;
• Both Teams To Score + Total Over (2.5) for 1.95;
• Both Halves Over 1.5 Goals - Yes for 4.94.