Avoid defeat at all costs!

The scenario

• If BVB get the win in Lisbon, they will have nine points, a superior head-to-head record against Sporting (six points after the 1-0 win in the reverse fixture) and will qualify prematurely for the knockout stages in second place.
• If there is a draw, both teams will have seven points. BVB would have the upper hand in the "head-to-head", which is the deciding criterion in the event two teams are level on points, and would then need to at least match Sporting's result in Amsterdam when they host Besiktas in the final round.
• If BVB lose by one goal in Lisbon, they would still have a mathematical chance of progression. They would still need Sporting to lose to Ajax in Amsterdam, and by a significant margin too as an eight-goal swing would be needed.
• If they lose by two or more goals, then Borussia Dortmund will be eliminated from the Champions League.

Previous meetings

BVB won both meetings with Sporting in the 2016/17 group stages. Goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (9) and Julian Weigl (43) secured BVB a 2-1 win in Lisbon on Matchday 3, with Adrian Ramos' strike enough to seal a 1-0 home triumph in the return fixture.

Sporting CP facts

• Portugal's champions from last season are currently competing in the UEFA Champions League group stages for the ninth time. Only in 2008/09 did they reach the knockout rounds.
• Sporting have won six of their last eight European home games, but only two of their past 13 against German opposition. Their 4-2 victory against Schalke in 2014 was their only victory in their last 10 meetings (home and away) with a club from the Bundesliga.

Borussia facts

• BVB have won seven of their last 15 away matches in the Champions League. There have been no draws in that time.
• Borussia have won on their last two visits to Portugal – away to Sporting in 2016 (see above) and 1-0 to Benfica in 2017. There have been three wins and one defeat in their last four visits.