Borussia Dortmund delivered a ruthless second-half display to dismantle Sporting CP 3-0 at Estadio Jose Alvalade, securing a crucial first-leg advantage in their Champions League knockout tie.
Despite a four-game winless run at the end of the league phase, Sporting had reason for optimism, having rarely reached this stage of the competition.
They started brightly, with Maximiliano Araujo rattling the crossbar early on and Joao Simoes testing Gregor Kobel before halftime.
However, Dortmund emerged from the break with renewed intent. Karim Adeyemi forced a strong save from Rui Silva before Serhou Guirassy broke the deadlock, soaring to meet Julian Brandt’s cross and looping a header into the far corner, his 10th goal of the campaign, drawing him level with Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski.
Guirassy then turned provider, delivering a pinpoint cross for Pascal Gross to steer home, before Adeyemi sealed the win with a clinical finish on the counter.
With a mountain to climb in the second leg, Sporting face an uphill battle to reach the last 16, while Dortmund’s dream of another deep Champions League run remains very much alive.
