Sporting need Ruben Amorim back: Record-breaking Serhou Guirassy stars as Dortmund take control of Champions League play-off

Sporting's struggles in the Champions League since Ruben Amorim departed for Manchester United continued on Tuesday as the Portuguese side were beaten 3-0 at home by last season's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund.

The hosts have failed to win any of their European games without Amorim this season and rarely looked like changing that record against Dortmund. A low-key first half saw only flashes of quality, although Sporting did go closest when Maximiliano Araujo thumped a powerful shot against the woodwork with a quarter of an hour played.

Dortmund were struggling to pose Sporting problems and didn’t manage a single effort on target in the opening 45 minutes but looked a different proposition after the break.

Karim Adeyemi forced goalkeeper Rui Silva into a save with a powerful effort, before Guirassy opened the scoring for the visitors on the hour mark. The visitors worked the ball out to Julian Brandt on the right, and he lofted in a deep cross for Guirassy at the far post to head back across goal and past Silva.

Guirassy then turned provider to double Dortmund's advantage just eight minutes later. Again the danger came down the right, with Guirassy sending in an inviting cross for the on rushing Pascal Gross to knock home for his first ever Dortmund goal.

Sporting were reeling and Dortmund went on to deliver the knockout blow late on. A quick break saw Brandt tee up Adeyemi to stab the ball home at the far post and continue Dortmund's impressive recent record in this competition.

Guirassy was the match-winner for Dortmund and it should be no surprise given his record in the tournament this season. The Dortmund star headed into the match as the joint top-scorer in the competition on nine goals and his excellent header means he moves into double figures. It wasn't an easy chance either but he took it with some confidence to join Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland as only the third Dortmund player to score 10 goal in a Champions League season. He also bagged an assist for Dortmund's second goal to cap another fine night on the big European stage.

Rui Borges is already Sporting's third coach of the season but could not end his team's dismal recent Champions League record despite a promising opening. Sporting looked just about the better team in the first half but were comfortably beaten after the break and, rather worryingly for Sporting, Borges seemed to have no answer to the Bundesliga side's dominance.

The two teams will face off again next Wednesday in Germany in the second leg of their play-off tie. Before then, Sporting will host Arouca in a league clash, while Dortmund head to VfL Bochum.