Arsenal vs Sporting CP Preview: Prediction, Team News & Lineups

The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final Second Leg sees Arsenal vs Sporting CP in London on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Arsenal take a 1-0 lead into the tie after Kai Havertz’s stoppage-time winner in Lisbon, with a place in the semi-finals on the line. Here you need to know team news, probable XIs, key players, prediction & F&Q in one sharp preview.

Arsenal return to north London with a narrow but important advantage after edging Sporting CP 1-0 in the first leg. Kai Havertz’s stoppage-time strike settled a tight contest in Lisbon, and Arsenal now have the chance to finish the job at home and reach the last four for a second straight season.

Sporting, though, are still alive in the tie and will believe they can make it uncomfortable if they start fast in London. Despite a narrow first-leg loss, Sporting has been prolific scorers domestically, though they have struggled to keep clean sheets in their last 5 away European games

Arsenal vs Sporting CP – Date, Time, Predictions, and More

Category	Information
Tournament	2026 UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final Second Legs Preview
Match	Arsenal vs Sporting CP (Quarter-Final)
Date & Time	Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 21:00 CET
Venue	Emirates Stadium, London
Broadcast	Paramount+, FuboTV. Starts 3:00 PM ET.
Path to Final	Winner advances to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals

Arsenal have plenty of reasons to like their position. UEFA notes that the Gunners are unbeaten in six European meetings with Sporting CP, while their first-leg win also marked their tenth victory in the competition this season.

Sporting, however, has a strong knockout mentality over two legs and will lean on that experience as they chase a comeback.

Team Preview and Analysis

Arsenal

Arsenal’s first-leg win was classic late-European drama: patient, controlled, and decided by a single ruthless moment. Havertz’s goal gave them a first-leg cushion, while David Raya’s big saves helped keep Sporting at bay. Mikel Arteta said after the match that it is “half-time” and that the job now is to finish the tie in front of their own fans.

Team news is still the big watch point. Reuters reported that Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, Piero Hincapié, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jurrien Timber were among those not involved in Arsenal’s recent selection, while Eberechi Eze had returned to training and was expected to be available. That leaves Arteta with decisions to make, but Arsenal still have enough quality to control the tie if they keep their shape.

Sporting CP

Sporting were beaten only late in Lisbon, and the performance still gave them some encouragement. Rui Borges admitted the result was frustrating, but he also said he believes Sporting can be competitive in London and keep the tie alive. That is the mindset they will need, because chasing the game at the Emirates can quickly open space for Arsenal’s pace and movement.

There is also a positive note for Sporting: Geovany Quenda said earlier this month that he had returned to training after injury and felt very good, adding another option in a squad that already has Trincão, Catamo, Pedro Gonçalves and Luis Suárez available from the UEFA squad list and first-leg group.

Who will win Arsenal vs Sporting CP?

This still feels like Arsenal’s tie to lose. They already have the lead, they are at home, and the head-to-head record leans their way: Arsenal are unbeaten in six European meetings with Sporting CP, and UEFA’s stat pack also says English clubs have won the last ten two-legged Champions League ties against Portuguese opposition. Sporting can make it awkward, but Arsenal’s control, game management, and home advantage should be enough to see them through.

We say: Arsenal 2-1 Sporting CP
Aggregate: Arsenal 3-1 Sporting CP

Champions League form

• Arsenal: L W L L W W.
• Sporting CP: W L W W W L

Arsenal vs Sporting CP Probable Starting XI

• Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Gyökeres, Trossard.
  • Unavailable: Bukayo Saka, Jurriën Timber, Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino, and Piero Hincapié are OUT due to injury.
• Sporting CP (4-3-3): Rui Silva; Fresneda, Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo; Hjulmand, Morita, Pedro Gonçalves; Catamo, Trincão, Luis Suárez.
  • Unavailable: Morten Hjulmand (Suspended), Fotis Ioannidis, Luis Guilherme, and Geovany Quenda are OUT, while Nuno Santos remains a major doubt.

Key Players to Watch

Team	Player	Position	Why They Matter
Arsenal	Kai Havertz	Forward	Scored the first-leg winner and has three goals in four Champions League games.
Arsenal	David Raya	Goalkeeper	Produced the key saves in Lisbon and kept Arsenal in control.
Arsenal	Gabriel Martinelli	Winger	Created the goal for Havertz and remains a direct threat in transition.
Sporting CP	Francisco Trincão	Forward	One of Sporting’s main creators between the lines.
Sporting CP	Geny Catamo	Winger	Offers pace and direct running from wide areas.
Sporting CP	Luis Suárez	Forward	Leads the line and needs to be clinical if Sporting are to turn this around.

Frequently Asked Questions