New Delhi: The Champions League playoff second legs continue on Wednesday, with four teams fighting to overturn first-leg deficits and secure a place in the last 16. Borussia Dortmund will look to improve their poor home form when they host Sporting Lisbon, while PSV aim to end their knockout struggles against an in-form Juventus side.
Real Madrid hold a narrow advantage over Manchester City after a thrilling first leg, but Pep Guardiola’s men are desperate to keep their title defence alive. Meanwhile, PSG are in full control against Brest, who face a near-impossible task at the Parc des Princes.
Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting Lisbon
Soccer Football – Champions League – GNK Dinamo Zagreb v Borussia Dortmund – Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia – November 27, 2024 Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in action with GNK Dinamo Zagreb’s Kevin Theophile-Catherine REUTERS/Antonio Bronic
Borussia Dortmund will look to improve their poor home form when they take on Sporting Lisbon. Dortmund have struggled recently, winning just one of their last seven home games. They sit 11th in the Bundesliga with 29 points, trailing the Champions League spots by eight points. Niko Kovac’s side have also been inconsistent in Europe, finishing 10th in the league phase with 15 points and missing out on automatic qualification by one point.
Sporting Lisbon, meanwhile, are top of the Primeira Liga but have drawn their last two league games. They have struggled in the Champions League, losing four of their last five matches. Their away form has also been concerning, with just one win in their last eight trips. However, they have beaten big teams in the competition before, including a 4-1 win over Manchester City this season. Sporting will hope to take advantage of Dortmund’s shaky form.
- Dortmund predicted line-up: Kobel; Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Svensson; Ozcan, Gross; Adeyemi, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy.
- Sporting predicted line-up: Silva; Fresneda, Diomande, Quaresma, Reis; Debast, Hjulmand; Trincao, Simoes, Biel; Gyokeres.
- Where to watch: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV
- Time: 11:15 PM (IST)
- Match prediction: Dortmund 2-1 Sporting Lisbon
Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Real Madrid players celebrating after thrashing Man City 3-2. (Image via @realmadrid ‘X’)
Real Madrid will look to finish the job at the Bernabeu after edging a thrilling first leg against Manchester City. Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham delivered the decisive moments as Los Blancos overturned an early setback to claim a 3-2 win. They now stand just 90 minutes away from the last 16, where Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen await. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have not won any of their last three league games and could lose top spot in La Liga if Barcelona beat Rayo Vallecano.
Manchester City, meanwhile, responded to their setback with a dominant 4-0 win over Newcastle, showing signs of their best form. Pep Guardiola’s men have scored in 15 straight matches but have also lost their last three away games in Europe. City must break that streak to overturn their first-leg deficit, but history is against them—Guardiola’s side have never progressed after losing the first leg of a knockout tie.
- Real Madrid predicted line-up: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Camavinga, Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
- Man City predicted line-up: Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Gonzalez; Savinho, Silva, De Bruyne, Marmoush; Haaland.
- Where to watch: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV
- Time: 01:30 AM (IST)
- Match prediction: Real Madrid 2-2 Manchester City
PSV vs Juventus
Francisco Conceicao celebrates (Image via @juventusfcen ‘X’)
PSV will look to overturn a one-goal deficit when they host Juventus in the second leg of their Champions League tie. Despite Ivan Perisic becoming their oldest scorer in the competition, the Dutch champions fell to a late winner from Samuel Mbangula. They have not progressed from a knockout tie in UEFA’s top competition since 2007 but remain unbeaten in 12 home games in Europe, winning their last three.
Juventus, meanwhile, have history on their side, having advanced from their last 20 European ties after winning the first leg. The Italian side have drawn their last three Champions League away games, and another stalemate would see them through. They have hit form recently, winning four in a row, including a dramatic victory over Inter Milan in Serie A. With a last-16 spot on the line, Juve will aim to extend PSV’s European struggles and secure progression.
- PSV predicted line-up: Benitez; Karsdorp, Flamingo, Obispo, Junior; Schouten, Veerman; Bakayoko, Saibari, Perisic; De Jong.
- Juventus predicted line-up: Di Gregorio; Weah, Gatti, Veiga, Kelly; Thuram, Locatelli; Gonzalez, McKennie, Yildiz; Kolo Muani.
- Where to watch: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV
- Time: 01:30 AM (IST)
- Match prediction: PSV 1-1 Juventus
PSG vs Brest
Goncalo Ramos celebrating after scoring for PSG. (Image via @Ligue1_ENG
‘X’)
Paris Saint-Germain are on the brink of the Champions League last 16 after a dominant 3-0 first-leg win over Brest, thanks to Vitinha’s early penalty and a brace from Ousmane Dembélé. The French champions have been in exceptional form, unbeaten in 18 matches, and history strongly favours them, having progressed in 17 of their last 18 European ties after winning the first leg. They also hold a 31-game unbeaten streak against Brest, a record they can extend further at the Parc des Princes.
Brest face a near-impossible task, as no team has ever overturned a three-goal home defeat in Champions League history. They have never won at PSG’s ground in 18 attempts and have never scored more than two goals there. While their European dream appears to be ending, Eric Roy’s side remain in contention for continental football next season, sitting just outside Ligue 1’s top seven.
- PSG predicted line-up: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Barcola.
- Brest predicted line-up: Bizot; Zogbe, Chardonnet, Coulibaly, Pereira Lage; Lees-Melou, Magnetti, Doumbia; Faivre, Ajorque, Mama Balde.
- Where to watch: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV
- Time: 01:30 AM (IST)
- Match prediction: PSG 3-1 Brest
The Champions League playoffs heat up as Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, PSG, and Juventus look to secure last-16 spots. Can Sporting, Man City, Brest, and PSV turn their ties around? Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
