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A closer look at Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League group stage opponents

By Tushar Bahl

Borussia Dortmund begin their Champions League campaign next week (Photo by Lukas Schulze/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund begin their Champions League campaign next week (Photo by Lukas Schulze/Getty Images) /
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Pedro Goncalves (R) is one of Sporting CP’s biggest attacking threats (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)
Pedro Goncalves (R) is one of Sporting CP’s biggest attacking threats (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images) /

Sporting CP

Sporting Clube de Portugal, also known as Sporting CP and Sporting Lisbon, are back in the UEFA Champions League after a four year absence. They won the Portuguese league title for the first time in 19 years last season. And they look to be in great shape heading into the Champions League group stage.

Sporting CP have a talented squad that features a great mix of exciting young names and seasoned professionals. They are captained by former Liverpool defender Sebastián Coates. While Portuguese international João Palhinha is arguably their most important player. He played a crucial role in their title bid last season, and is an influential presence in midfield.

Their biggest attacking threat is arguably Pedro Gonçalves, who has established himself as one of the most promising young talents in Portugal since joining Sporting CP. The winger has scored four goals in just five appearances so far this season. Pablo Sarabia, who joined Sporting CP on loan from Paris St. Germain this summer, will add some experience to their midfield and attack.

Sporting CP are led by an exciting young coach in Rúben Amorim, who has made a big impact since joining from SC Braga. He tends to use the 3-4-2-1 formation, and his system gives them a fluid structure, allows them to maintain an intense press and makes them difficult to play against.

It will be interesting to see how Sporting CP fare on their return to the Champions League. But they will certainly be a handful for the other teams in the group.