Dortmund ease into last 16 after scoreless draw with Sporting

DORTMUND, Germany - Borussia Dortmund sailed into the last 16 of the Champions League after a comfortable 0-0 draw with Sporting in the second leg of their knockout phase playoff on Wednesday, giving last years runners-up a 3-0 aggregate win.

Dortmund will face Aston Villa or Lille in the last 16, depending on Fridays draw.

Despite being 3-0 down from the first leg, Sporting showed little urgency early on, looking happy to sit back and wait for an opportunity to counter.

Sporting left their top scorer Viktor Gyokeres at home as a precaution. The striker, with 34 goals in 36 games this season, has struggled with a thigh injury but played at the weekend, and his absence was a sign of their resignation.

The first chance fell to the hosts when Marcel Sabitzer tried his luck from distance and the shot curled wide of the far post.

Sabitzer, seeking his first goal of the season, had another strike from outside the area but Sporting keeper Rui Silva parried the ball away for a corner.

Dortmund were awarded a penalty 13 minutes after the interval when Silva took down Karim Adeyemi but the keeper made amends by saving Serhou Guirassys spot kick to deny the Champions Leagues top scorer this season his 11th goal of the competition.

MISSED CHANCES

Substitute Giovanni Reyna had an excellent chance to break the deadlock for the hosts when sent through with just the keeper to beat but he hit the upright and was unable to convert the rebound.

Emre Can did have the ball in the net with a header, but his effort was chalked off for offside, and Dortmund, who have lost their last two league games, the first two under new manager Niko Kovac, march on in Europe.

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