While Sporting did register more shots (8-6), only one was at Gregor Kobel's goal. Dortmund, meanwhile, directed three of their six attempts on target. One of them found the back of the net, the winning goal scored by Donyell Malen. Here are the match facts.

Clean sheet: The Black & Yellows kept a clean sheet for the first time since the 3-0 DFB-Pokal win in Wiesbaden. They had failed to do so in their eight competitive matches since then.

Run extended: BVB also won their seventh home game against a Portuguese club in European competition. The combined goal difference is now 18-2.

Strong at home: BVB have now won six of their last nine home games in Europe's elite club competition.

Strong challengers: Thomas Meunier performed by far the best of any Dortmund player when it came to challenges, winning seven of his 10 duels.

Passing machine: Axel Witsel picked out team-mates with 62 of his 64 passes (completion rate: 97%).

Flag up: In total the linesmen raised their flag 10 times (7 against Dortmund, 3 against Sporting). That included disallowing three BVB goals.

First goal: Donyell Malen scored his first goal for Borussia Dortmund. It was also his 15th goal in a European match, and not his first against Sporting either: he had fired PSV Eindhoven 1-0 ahead against the Portuguese capital club on 19 September 2019, a game his side went on to win 3-2 at home. (br)