Sporting CP vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news
Sporting CP vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news Arsenal head to the Estádio José Alvalade on Tuesday, aiming to salvage their season after consecutive domestic cup exits. The Gunners lead the Premier League but face a defining moment in their European campaign. Recent losses to Manchester City and Southampton have dented their quadruple ambitions.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side remains the only unbeaten team in the Champions League this season. Crucially, this tie marks the high-profile return of Viktor Gyökeres to his former home. The Swede scored 97 goals for the Lions before joining Arsenal last summer.
Sporting CP enter their second-ever Champions League quarter-final in peak form at home. Rui Borges’ men are currently enjoying a formidable 17-match winning streak at the Estádio José Alvalade. They reached this stage by spectacularly overturning a three-goal deficit against Bodø/Glimt.
While the Lions have never beaten Arsenal in regulation time, they eliminated the Gunners on penalties in 2023. Historically, Portuguese clubs have lost all nine Champions League quarter-final meetings with English opposition. Sporting CP vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news Date: Tuesday, 7 April 2026 Kick-off: 20:00 BST Venue: Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER) VAR: Bastian Dankert (GER) Last Meeting: Sporting CP 1–5 Arsenal (November 2024, UCL) Team News Sporting CP The Portuguese champions face a significant blow with captain Morten Hjulmand suspended for the first leg.
Elsewhere, Geovany Quenda and Luis Guilherme are both ruled out through injury. Giorgi Kochorashvili and Ricardo Mangas also remain unavailable for selection. Notably, Luis Suárez is one goal away from equaling the club’s single-season European scoring record.