Sporting CP vs Arsenal

Sporting will make preparations to host Arsenal for the first leg of this UCL quarter-final round. Their overall record against Premier League opposition is somewhat mixed, as they have won just two of their last 13 matches against English teams (D5 L6). Before their defeat to Arsenal last season, they had enjoyed a six-game unbeaten run. Interestingly, the Lisbon club have been highly effective in two-legged ties against English opposition overall, winning nine out of ten, with their only defeat coming against Manchester City in the 2021/22 round of 16. In addition, Sporting will take confidence from their outstanding home form in this season’s competition, having won all five of their Champions League matches in Lisbon, while scoring 16 goals and conceding just three. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Luis Suárez in attack is expected against Arsenal.

Arsenal are in red-hot form, having gone unbeaten in their five previous meetings (W2 D3). Their overall Champions League form is one of the best in Europe. They are unbeaten in this season’s competition (W9 D1), have kept six clean sheets, and have lost only two of their last 20 matches in the tournament. Additionally, they are unbeaten in the first leg of their last eight European Cup quarter-final ties. Their most recent encounter with the home side came in last season’s competition, where the Gunners produced a dominant 5–1 victory in Portugal. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard sealed an emphatic result, with Gonçalo Inácio scoring Sporting’s only goal. Historically, against Portuguese sides, the trend heavily favours English clubs. Teams from England have won the last ten two-legged Champions League ties against such sides. In fact, across nine previous European Cup quarter-finals between clubs from these nations, English sides have emerged victorious every time. This trend adds further weight to Arsenal’s chances, with the Gunners desperate to stick one foot in the semi-final following their weekend exit from the English FA Cup. A notable subplot involves Viktor Gyökeres, who previously starred for Sporting before joining Arsenal in 2025. The Swedish forward scored an impressive 97 goals in 102 appearances for the Portuguese side, including six in eight Champions League matches, and will now face his former club. Having scored Arsenal’s only goal in the 2-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday, the 27-year-old is expected once again at the attacking end of Arsenal’s 4—2—3—1 formation.