Sporting CP vs Arsenal Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | Quarter-Final
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Sporting CP will be hoping to repeat success against Arsenal in Europe once again as the Portuguese giants welcome the Gunners to Estadio Jose Alvalade this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime / USA – Paramount+
Sporting CP preview: Comeback kings
In the round of 16 of this season’s UEFA Champions League, Sporting managed to overturn a 3-0 first-leg loss in Norway against Bodo/Glimt, eventually defeating the overperforming minnows after extra-time last month in the second-leg in Lisbon.
That aforementioned previous success that Sporting have had against Arsenal came a few years ago as they, then under Ruben Amorim, defeated Mikel Arteta’s north Londoners in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League.
Arsenal preview: Quadruple gone, treble gone
Arsenal had an opportunity to head into the March international break on the back of picking up a trophy but they instead suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the final of the EFL Cup at Wembley Stadium.
They have returned from that break by being dealt another major blow as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Championship high-flyers Southampton at St Mary’s in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at the weekend.
Sporting CP team news: Hjulmand suspended
A huge issue for Sporting comes in the middle of the park as Denmark international midfielder Morten Hjulmand is now missing through suspension for the hosts.
As well as that, Sporting continue to have key injury absentees in the final third as wing duo Nuno Santos and Luis Guilherme remain sidelined for the Portuguese giants.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Silva; Fresneda, Quaresma, Inacio, Araujo; Braganca, Morita; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez
Unavailable: Hjulmand (Suspended), Quenda (Injured), Ioannidis (Injured), Santos (Injured), Guilherme (Injured)
Questionable:
Arsenal team news: Injury issues
After a surely unprecedented amount of injury withdrawals over the international break, it was somewhat surprising that quite a few of them were genuine, given where Arsenal are in their season.
Both Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka remain major doubts and appear unlikely to feature, while Piero Hincapie is sidelined alongside Eberechi Eze, too.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Unavailable: Hincapie (Injured), Merino (Injured), Eze (Injured)
Questionable: Timber (Injured), Saka (Injured)
Sporting CP vs Arsenal prediction
There were question marks about whether or not Arsenal were capable of getting themselves over the line and, in back-to-back matches, two glorious opportunities for silverware have now gone. They remain in a strong position in the Premier League and are favourites for this UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie. However, they were fortunate to avoid defeat away from home in the first-leg of their round of 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen and siding with Sporting may well be good value for this one in the Portuguese capital city.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal Tip: Double chance – Sporting CP to win or draw
