Sporting have been struggling domestically and in the Champions League since the departure of head coach Ruben Amorim to Manchester United. The Portuguese giants have only managed to win one of their last five games across all competitions and fell to a 3-0 defeat in the first leg meeting between these sides in which Dortmund were worthy winners.

Dortmund generated an xG of 1.81 in the first leg to Sporting’s 0.70 suggesting a gap in attacking quality. What is really interesting about Sporting recently is the lack of consistent game time for star striker Viktor Gyokeres who has only started two of Sporting’s last five games across all competitions. Sporting can be toothless in attack without the striker who has also suffered from Ruben Amorim’s absence with his goal rate decreasing since the head coach’s departure.

Dortmund have won three of their four Champions League games at home this season scoring 13 goals in the process and only conceding five. Sporting have only managed to win one of their four away trips in the Champions League this season, scoring just five goals across these European away games.

Manchester City showed real signs of improvement in their 4-0 win over Newcastle following the disappointing result in the first leg where they once again let a lead slip in the Champions League to enter this second leg needing a goal to get back into it. Whilst one game can’t signify a true change in fortunes for Manchester City, they did look far more secure in limiting transition with Nico Gonzalez in midfield – an issue they’ve had ever since Rodri got injured earlier in the season.

This selection allows Manchester City to lose by one goal and still be deemed a winner, meaning that it would have landed in the first leg and in four of Manchester City’s last five games across all competitions. This selection would also have landed in each of Real Madrid’s opponents last five games, suggesting that another tight affair is in store at the Bernabeu.

Manchester City managed to control large portions of the first leg as shown by their marginal edge in possession (54%) and superior passing numbers (450-375). Where City do have the edge on this Real Madrid side is in playing through the thirds, Real Madrid’s success comes from trusting their attacking quartet to create chances based on their talent alone with Carlo Ancelloti giving little instructions in this department. This control should result in City being able to avoid a hiding, but this selection considers that City may fall just short of qualifying for the next round given their inconsistent form this season.

Thiago Motta’s Juventus side have a lead to protect heading into the second leg of this Champions League tie and built on that positive performance with a win over Serie A title challengers Inter Milan. These performances have shown how tough Juventus have been to beat this season, a solid defensive unit has meant that the Old Lady have lost just one of their 25 Serie A games this season.

They’ve been pretty secure on the road in Europe this campaign in avoiding defeat in all four of their away games in the Champions League, with these games seeing just seven goals. Juventus are arguably the perfect side to churn out these dogged away performances to see them through to the next stage and can repeat their positive performance over PSV in the first leg here.

PSV have only managed to win one of their last five games across all competitions suggesting that Peter Bosz’s side will have to put in one of their best performances in recent weeks to get the better of Thiago Motta’s side who should continue to be stubborn on the road in the Champions League.