Arsenal vs Sporting CP Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | Quarter-Final
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
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Arsenal’s season is falling apart and they need to steer themselves through this UEFA Champions League quarter-final as the Gunners welcome Sporting CP to London.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Arsenal preview: Shaky Gunners
Prior to the March international break, Arsenal succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium before being beaten 2-1 by Championship outfit Southampton in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
That has been backed up by the Gunners suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League, leaving Manchester City hot on their heels ahead of a huge clash between the two sides at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
Sporting CP preview: Still in it
In the midst of that collapse in three competitions, Arsenal did manage to snatch an unconvincing and fortunate 1-0 win in Lisbon at Estadio Jose Alvalade against Sporting CP, courtesy of a late Kai Havertz winner in the Portuguese capital city.
Sporting have remained strong this season and they have form for turning things around in a second-leg, having come from 3-0 down to knock Norwegian giants Bodo/Glimt out in the round of 16 last month, albeit they did have home advantage in that second-leg.
Arsenal team news: Key doubts
Arsenal now have some key doubts for this one with captain Martin Odegaard limping off the pitch at the end of the first-leg and then missing out at the weekend against Bournemouth.
Other key absentees for that one included winger Bukayo Saka, as well as defender Jurrien Timber and versatile Italy international defender Riccardo Calafiori. Declan Rice was also among those missing from Arsenal's open training session.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Norgaard; Madueke, Havertz, Eze; Gyokeres
Unavailable: Merino (Injured)
Questionable: Timber (Injured), Calafiori (Injured), Rice (Injured), Odegaard (Injured), Saka (Injured)
Sporting CP team news: Hjulmand returns
Sporting have no fresh injury issues for this one and the visitors are able to welcome back Denmark international midfielder Morten Hjulmand from suspension.
They do have some key absentees still in attack, such as versatile wingers Nuno Santos and Luis Guilherme, as well as Greece international striker Fotis Ioannidis.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Silva; Fresneda, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo; Simoes, Hjulmand; Catamo, Goncalves, Trincao; Suarez
Unavailable: Santos (Injured), Guilherme (Injured), Ioannidis (Injured)
Questionable:
Arsenal vs Sporting CP prediction
Arsenal will not be convincing. There will be fears that Mikel Arteta, who hasn’t won a trophy since his opening six months in charge of the Gunners back in 2020, has scars for winning silverware – and one of those being when Sporting knocked Arsenal out in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League a few years ago. Portuguese opposition such as FC Porto have also proven extremely stiff for the Gunners, with penalties required to see of what was a flailing Dragons outfit. Sporting will head to north London confident that they can frustrate an often dull and toothless Arsenal side but, safety first as ever, a goalless draw suits the hosts and so it may not be a thriller – but it should be tense.
Arsenal vs Sporting CP Tip: Under 2.5 goals
