Borussia Dortmund Advances to Champions League Last 16 with Goalless Draw
Borussia Dortmund completed the job they started in Lisbon, advancing to the Champions League Round of 16. The return leg, held today in Dortmund, ended in a goalless draw, leaving spectators without any goals to cheer for.
Heading into the second leg, Sporting CP was in a hopeless position. No matter how much Borussia Dortmund was struggling, it was hard to imagine Niko Kovac's men losing at home by at least a three-goal margin. Furthermore, the first half in Dortmund showed that the hosts were taking the second leg seriously, and Sporting could not count on any underestimation from their opponents.
On the other hand, the 3-0 scoreline from the first leg had a significant impact on the spectacle of today’s game. Dortmund didn’t push too hard. The most active player for the hosts was Marcel Sabitzer, who tested Rui Silva three times from outside the box before halftime. However, only one of those efforts was on target, with Silva coming to Sporting's rescue. Sporting, in turn, had no meaningful counter-attacks to offer.
The start of the second half saw Dortmund continue to dominate, with several more shots from outside the box. However, they could have taken the lead in a different manner. In the 57th minute, Karim Adeyemi broke free and found himself one-on-one but hesitated with his shot and was taken down by the goalkeeper. Serhou Guirassy stepped up to take the penalty but placed it weakly into the bottom corner, and Silva easily collected the ball.
It seemed that Sporting might find an opportunity to turn the tide, but nothing materialized. Dortmund continued their attacks, creating a few more chances, including a superb opportunity in the 69th minute, which Giovanni Reyna blasted off the post. Sporting, however, remained defensive, and the final score was 0-0, a result that seemed to suit both teams.
Borussia Dortmund advances to the Champions League Round of 16, where they will face either Aston Villa or Lille. Not a bad outcome for the Dortmund side.
2024-25 UEFA Champions League
Borussia D - Sporting CP 0:0
Borussia D: Kobel; Ryerson; Svensson D.; Schlotterbeck N.; Can E.; Bynoe-Gittens (Beier M., 46); Brandt (Reyna G., 68); Groß; Sabitzer (Anton, 89); Adeyemi K. (Bensebaini, 89); Guirassy (Duranville, 68)
Bench: Lotka; Meyer A.; Süle; Couto; Özcan Sa.; Chukwuemeka C.; Campbell C.
Yellow Cards: Sabitzer 75
Sporting CP: Rui Silva; Diomande; Inacio (Moreira Afonso, 55); Reis M.; Quaresma E.; Esgaio; Hjulmand (Brito, 46); Simões; Biel (Araújo M., 55); Quenda; Harder
Bench: Israel; Calai Diego; Debast; Fresneda; Felicíssimo; Nel R.
