Sporting CP host Arsenal in Lisbon on 7 April in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, with referee D. Siebert in charge. In the league phase, Arsenal were flawless: 1st with 24 points from 8 matches (8 wins, 23–4 goal record, form WWWWW). Sporting also impressed, finishing 7th with 16 points from 8 (5 wins, 17–11, form WWLWD) and a perfect home league-phase record: 4 wins from 4, 11–3 on goals.
Across the full Champions League campaign, Sporting have played 10 games, winning 6 and losing 3, scoring 22 and conceding 14. At home they average 3.2 goals for and 0.6 against. Arsenal, unbeaten in 10 (9 wins, 1 draw), have hit 26 goals and let in just 5, with 6 clean sheets and no failures to score.
Key Insight
Recent competitive H2H is tight: in the 2022 Europa League 1/8 final, the tie finished 3–3 on aggregate before Sporting won on penalties at Emirates, while Arsenal took 4 points from Sporting in the 2018 Europa League group stage. Their latest meeting, however, saw Arsenal crush Sporting 5–1 in Lisbon in the 2024/25 Champions League league phase.
Team News & Key Players
Sporting are without M. Hjulmand (suspension), F. Ioannidis and N. Santos, while Luis Guilherme and G. Quenda are doubtful. Arsenal miss E. Eze, P. Hincapie, M. Merino, B. Saka and J. Timber. Arsenal’s main attacking reference in Europe has been Gabriel Martinelli, with 6 goals and 1 assist in 9 Champions League appearances.
Verdict
With Arsenal’s near-impenetrable defence and relentless scoring against a Sporting side that is formidable in Lisbon but weakened in midfield and attack, the data tilts towards Arsenal avoiding defeat and likely taking a first-leg advantage, though Sporting’s home scoring trend suggests both teams can find the net.
