Preview: Sporting CP vs Arsenal Prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds | UEFA Champions League 2025-26 quarter-final first leg
The Gunners dominated the proceedings when these sides last met.
Sporting Clube de Portugal are now going to have a face-off against Arsenal for their first leg quarterfinal outing of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. This is going to be an interesting outing, taking place at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
The Rui Borges-led side are coming in after securing a 4-2 win against Santa Clara in their previous Liga Portugal outing. They have done well in their last three games and they will be eager to continue their winning run.
Sporting Lisbon outclassed Bodo/Glimt in their last UCL outing. They underperformed during the first leg, but at the home leg, they dominated the proceedings. The Lions wil be at home for their upcoming game, but it is not going to be an easy outing for them.
Mikel Arteta’s men are coming in after getting knocked out of the FA Cup, after a poor performance against Southampton. Previously, they were outplayed by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. After two back-to-back defeats, it is going to make things interesting for the Gunners.
In their UEFA Champions League round of 16, Arsenal defeated Bayer Leverkusen. It was not the easiest outing for them, but they managed to secure a win in the second leg. The visitors will be keen to put up a strong performance against Sporting CP here.
Kick-off:
- Location: Lisbon, Portugal
- Stadium: Jose Alvalade
- Date: Wednesday, April 8
- Kick-off Time: 12:30 a.m. IST (Tuesday, April 7; 07:00 p.m. GMT/ 02:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT)
- Referee: TBD
- VAR: In use
Form:
Sporting: D-L-W-W-W
Arsenal: D-W-W-L-L
Players to Watch
Francisco Trincão (Sporting CP)
Francisco Trincão is going to be one of the main men in the attacking front for Sporting Clube de Portugal. In nine UCL games of the ongoing campaign, he has seven goal involvements and will be eager to add more to his tally. The 26-year-old will be crucial to the hosts’ success, controlling the midfield and scoring goals.
Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)
Viktor Gyokeres has scored five goals in his last three games for his club and country. He was the sole goal scorer for Arsenal in their FA Cup clash against the Saints, but it was not enough to avoid the defeat. He will be one again, looking to step up his game and come up with a top performance so that he can help the Gunners in the final third.
Gyokeres will be facing his former club and it is not going to be an easy one for him.
Match Facts
- Arsenal are on a two-match losing streak.
- Sporting CP are on a three-match winning run.
- The Lions have only secure one win in their seven outings against the Gunners.
Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal: Betting Tips and Odds
- Arsenal to win @76/100 10bet
- Viktor Gyokeres to score @9/5 BetVictor
- Goals over 3.5 @12/5 bet365
Injury and Team News
Sporting CP will not have Nuno Santos and Fotis Ioannidis in action due to their injuries. Morten Hjulmand is suspended. Luis Guilherme and Geovany Quenda are not yet confirmed to be a part of the squad.
Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Piero Hincapie are not going to be in action for Arsenal. They are injured. Gabriel Magalhães, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Leondro Trossard might also miss out due to their fitness issues.
Head-to-Head
Total matches: 7
Sporting won: 1
Arsenal won: 3
Draws: 3
Predicted Lineups
Sporting CP predicted lineup (4-2-3-1)
Silva (GK); Vagiannidis, Inacio, Debast, Mangas; Morita, Mora; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves, Suarez
Arsenal predicted lineup (4-2-3-1)
Raya (GK); White, Saliba, Mosquera, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi; Madueke, Havertz, Martinelli; Gyokeres
Match Prediction
In their UCL round of 16, Sporting Lisbon showed that they are more than capable of making a comeback. This is going to make them a dangerous side at home. Even though Arsenal will be heading to Alvalade, they will be tough to beat.
This might be a tight one, but the Gunners might edge past here.
Prediction: Sporting CP 2-3 Arsenal
Telecast Details
India: SonyLIV, Sony Sports Network
UK: TNT Sports, BBC
US: Paramount+, TUDN
Nigeria: DAZN
When and where is Sporting CP vs Arsenal UCL match?
Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. GMT.
Where and how to watch UCL live in India?
SonyLIV and Sony Sports Network can be used to watch the UCL live in India.
Where and how to watch UCL live in UK?
Fans in the United Kingdom, TNT Sports and BBC can be used to watch all the games live.
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Dilpreet is a dedicated football writer with a keen eye for World Football. As a proud Real Madrid fan, we believe his work reflects the same ambition and precision. Since joining Khel Now in 2025, he has crafted stories beyond scores, diving into tactics, culture, and emotion. With a strong background in content writing, he blends clarity with creativity, always aiming to bring the beautiful game closer to readers.