90min

Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Sporting CP: Player ratings as Bellingham stars in BVB victory

By Krishan Davis

Donyell Malen celebrates his winner
Donyell Malen celebrates his winner / Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images
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An injury-hit Borussia Dortmund side comfortably secured a second successive three points in Group C of the Champions League on Tuesday night, beating Sporting CP 1-0 at Signal Iduna Park.

Dortmund were without goalscoring sensation Erling Haaland, as well as Giovanni Reyna, Emre Can and Dan-Axel Zagadou going into the encounter.

However, those absences would ultimately make no odds.

After a disjointed opening 35 minutes, England international Jude Bellingham registered a fifth assist of the season as he slid Donyell Malen through, with the Dutchman sprinting clear to roll a perfect finish into the corner - his first goal for the club.

While Sporting kept Dortmund's attack at bay, they barely created anything going forward and weren't even able to make it a nervy final few minutes for the hosts.

Here's how the BVB players rated...

BORUSSIA DORTMUND PLAYER RATINGS

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

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Hummels was wobbly / INA FASSBENDER/Getty Images

Gregor Kobel (GK) - 6/10 - Barely had anything to do all game in truth.

Thomas Meunier (RB) - 6/10 - Important early intervention to deny a tap-in. Got forward well and produced some good crosses.

Manuel Akanji (CB) - 6/10 - Strong on the ground and won some key aerial duels.

Mats Hummels (CB) - 5/10 - Fortunate two moments of madness weren't punished in the first half - first outmuscled before giving the ball away to an attacker. Another sloppy giveaway late on. Booked.

Raphael Guerreiro (LB) - 5/10 - Looked shackled playing as an orthodox full-back, rather than wing-back. Popped up in the box in the second half and saw his drive blocked. Subbed.

2. Wing-backs & midfielders

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Bellingham bagged another assist / INA FASSBENDER/Getty Images

Axel Witsel (DM) - 7/10 - Anchored the midfield competently, finding plenty of space to dictate play with Sporting occupied by Julian Brandt and Bellingham.

Mahmoud Dahoud (DM) - N/A - Forced off in the opening exchanges after hurting his knee in an innocuous challenge.

Jude Bellingham (AM) - 8/10 - Forced to play deeper after Dahoud's injury. Didn't stop him getting forward though, providing the assist for Malen's opener. Booked for a rash, unnecessary foul on a defender. Some enterprising runs with the ball, but to no avail.

3. Forwards

Donyell Malen
It was a night to remember for Malen / Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images

Marco Reus (RW) - 6/10 - Not at his creative best, but kept his passing crisp and posed a threat drifting around behind Malen.

Donyell Malen (ST) - 7/10 - Frustrated by the linesman's flag as he rolled in a tap-in, but had his first BVB goal minutes later, sprinting through to squeeze an inch-perfect finish into the corner. Offside again as he headed in in the second half. Subbed.

Thorgan Hazard (LW) - 6/10 - Drifted all over the frontline. End product was lacking a bit too often. Subbed.

4. Substitutes

Julian Brandt (AM) - 6/10 - Thrusted into proceedings after just eight minutes, Brandt brought some creative impetus. Passes weren't quite accurate enough.

Marius Wolf (RW) - 6/10 - Worked hard.

Nico Schulz (LB) - N/A

Reinier (ST) - N/A

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