The Portuguese champion is spending the current season at a good level. The team for some time has been very convincing both on the European stage and in the national league, not losing points at all. However, in November it lost to Arsenal in a crushing style, after which the confidence of the "green and white" was shaken. Now the Lisbon club is a very serious rival for any participant in the Champions League, but the overall stage has not finished in the best way. Eleven points lost out of twelve possible points in the last four rounds almost cost the Portuguese team a playoff spot, which after the first half of the overall stage seemed unassailable. Borussia Dortmund, on the contrary, are only playing relatively confidently in the Champions League this season. In eight meetings of the general stage, the "bumblebees" lost three times, which allowed them to finish tenth - close to the zone 1/8 finals. Bookmakers have identified the home team as favourites for the upcoming meeting, offering odds of 2.22 on their victory.

Sporting recently lost the League Cup to Benfica, in the final confrontation worse realised a penalty. At the same time, the Lisbon team is leading in the Primera Liga, ahead of the same "eagles" on four points after the 21st round. In the last match of the Portuguese championship Sporting could keep the advantage of six points, but because of a goal on 90+4 minutes missed away victory over Porto. Although the result has a bitter aftertaste, it will help Sporting's players to set their minds right for the Champions League encounter, rather than dwelling in the clouds.

Borussia Dortmund just changed their head coach. Instead of the sacked Nuri Shaheen, Dortmund got Niko Kovac, who hasn't taken on a serious project in a while. Of course, quick improvements from the long-weakened team were not to be expected. As a result, in the last round of the Bundesliga "Bumblebees" in their home walls lost to Stuttgart, also being not in the best condition. Borussia's current eleventh place in the Bundesliga says a lot about the team's form. The last time the teams crossed paths was in the group stage of the 2021/2022 season. Back then, Sporting beat Borussia 3-1 at home and knocked them out of the Champions League, finishing in the top two of the quartet with Ajax. Sporting will prove their advantage in Lisbon this time too.