Sporting Clube de Portugal now knows who they will face in the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League. The draw held this Friday (31), in Nyon, Switzerland, placed the Lions against Borussia Dortmund, a reunion that brings to mind the duel between the two teams in the 2021 edition of the competition. The event was conducted by former Spanish international Thiago Alcântara and marked another step in Sporting's journey in the main European club competition.
With the introduction of the new Champions League format in the 2024/25 season, the play-off emerges as a decisive phase for the teams that finished between 9th and 24th place in the league phase. Sporting secured their place in this round by finishing 23rd, while Borussia Dortmund, a team accustomed to these stages, finished 10th. Now, both clubs will compete for a place in the round of 16, in a tie that promises excitement until the last minute.
The first leg is scheduled for February 11th at the Estádio José Alvalade, where Sporting will try to take advantage of their fans' support to gain an advantage in the tie. The second leg will be played a week later, on February 18th, at the always imposing Signal Iduna Park, one of the most feared stadiums in Europe due to the intensity of its fans.
This clash between Sporting and Borussia Dortmund brings back memories of the last time the two clubs met in the Champions League, in the 2021/22 season. On that occasion, the Germans won the first leg 1-0, but in the second leg Sporting prevailed with a superb performance at Alvalade, triumphing 3-1, with a brace from Pedro Gonçalves and a goal from Pedro Porro. Now, the story will be different, and the Lions will have to prove on the pitch that they deserve a place among the best in Europe.
If Sporting CP gets past this stage, they will secure passage to the round of 16, where they will face the winner of the match between LOSC Lille and Aston Villa. Without a doubt, the challenge will not be easy.
On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund, currently 11th in the Bundesliga, wants to continue its fight for European glory and avoid an early elimination. With a talented team and experience in the competition, the Germans will be a difficult opponent for Sporting.
Meanwhile, Atlético de Madrid, another representative in this edition of the Champions League, will only find out its opponent for the round of 16 on February 21st, after the conclusion of the play-offs and the official draw.
The tie between Sporting and Borussia Dortmund promises to be one of the most interesting duels of this stage of the competition. With two high-quality teams and fervent fans, the fight for a place in the round of 16 will be intense, and the Lions will have to be at their best to secure passage to the next stage of the competition.
