Post-Match Report
Facts: another clean sheet in the Champions League
Superiority: BVB had almost three times as many shots on goal as Sporting: 19-7. BVB were particularly dangerous after the break, with 13 of their 19 efforts coming in the second half. Sporting's impressive keeper Rui Costa made four strong saves, and was rescued once by the post.
Clean sheet: For the fifth time this season, and thus in every second Champions League match, Gregor Kobel and Borussia Dortmund kept a clean sheet. In the Bundesliga, this has only been achieved three times so far this season.
Missed: For the first time since 1 June 2023, and the fourth time in his career, Serhou Guirassy missed a penalty. Between his miss against Hamburg's Heuer Fernandez (for Stuttgart) and against Lisbon's Rui Costa, he had netted 12 consecutive spot-kicks.
Record goalscorer: Although Guirassy came away empty-handed against Sporting, his ten goals in this Champions League season make him Borussia Dortmund's most successful goalscorer in a campaign in Europe's elite, level with Erling Haaland (2020/21 season) and Robert Lewandowski (2012/13). Only two Borussia players have been more prolific in European competitions: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's 11 goals in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League are still within his reach, as are the 14 goals and club record set by Lothar Emmerich in 1965/66.
Top scorer: Guirassy has notched up a total of 13 scorer points in the UEFA Champions League this season. This is the joint most ever registered by a Borussia Dortmund player, alongside Erling Haaland in 2020/21 (ten goals, three assists in eight matches), while Robert Lewandowski had 12 in 2012/13 (ten goals, two assists in 13 matches).
A welcome sight: After seven home wins in a row against clubs from Portugal, BVB drew for the first time, but have kept a clean sheet in their last five meetings with opponents from the west of Iberia. (br)