Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon Prediction & Picks - Champions League
Europe - Champions League
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by Carlos Zabala | in Champions League Picks
The Gunners' season has once again imploded when it matters most; even the Premier League title no longer seems so secure, but in the Champions League in Portugal, they at least salvaged a reassuring result at the end, beating Sporting CP 1-0 in the first leg. The tie returns to London; it's obvious that the fans won't be happy about another upset at the Emirates Stadium. However, the Gunners have not lost their home advantage and, with odds of -212, they are also the heavy favorites to win the return leg.
Sporting Lisbon are the two-time defending Portuguese champions and are aiming once again to snatch the league lead from Porto. The trio of Suárez, Trincao, and Goncalves played in their last league match, a victory against Estrela. They are expected to be available for the return leg in London just four days later. But that's also the same amount of rest Arsenal had after their unexpected defeat against Bournemouth.
Although some predict that Arsenal will inevitably implode once again in the final stages of the season and continue to do so next Wednesday in the Champions League, it's also possible that such an outcome won't happen. A significant historical fact is that Portuguese clubs have failed to advance beyond the Champions League quarterfinals in all of their last nine attempts.
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Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon Form
Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon Latest Matches
3/6 (50%)
0/6 (0%)
3/6 (50%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Apr 11, 2026 - Premier League
Apr 7, 2026 - Champions League
Apr 4, 2026 - FA Cup
Mar 22, 2026 - Carabao Cup
Mar 17, 2026 - Champions League
Mar 14, 2026 - Premier League
4/6 (67%)
0/6 (0%)
2/6 (33%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Apr 11, 2026 - Premier League
Mar 22, 2026 - Carabao Cup
Mar 17, 2026 - Champions League
Mar 14, 2026 - Premier League
Mar 1, 2026 - Premier League
Feb 15, 2026 - FA Cup
4/6 (67%)
1/6 (17%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Apr 7, 2026 - Champions League
Apr 4, 2026 - FA Cup
Mar 11, 2026 - Champions League
Mar 7, 2026 - FA Cup
Mar 4, 2026 - Premier League
Feb 22, 2026 - Premier League
4/6 (67%)
0/6 (0%)
2/6 (33%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Apr 11, 2026 - Liga Portugal
Apr 7, 2026 - Champions League
Apr 3, 2026 - Liga Portugal
Mar 22, 2026 - Liga Portugal
Mar 17, 2026 - Champions League
Mar 11, 2026 - Champions League
5/6 (83%)
0/6 (0%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Apr 7, 2026 - Champions League
Apr 3, 2026 - Liga Portugal
Mar 17, 2026 - Champions League
Mar 3, 2026 - Taca de Portugal
Feb 27, 2026 - Liga Portugal
Feb 15, 2026 - Liga Portugal
3/6 (50%)
2/6 (33%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Apr 11, 2026 - Liga Portugal
Mar 22, 2026 - Liga Portugal
Mar 11, 2026 - Champions League
Mar 7, 2026 - Liga Portugal
Feb 21, 2026 - Liga Portugal
Feb 9, 2026 - Liga Portugal
Arsenal against Sporting Lisbon : Head to Head (H2H)
50 %
50 %
0 %
Average stats (last H2H results)
Apr 7, 2026 - Champions League
Nov 26, 2024 - Champions League
Mar 16, 2023 - Europa League
Mar 9, 2023 - Europa League
Nov 8, 2018 - Europa League
Oct 25, 2018 - Europa League
Arsenal - Sporting Lisbon: Form Analysis
A brilliant combination between Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz was the formula that led to Arsenal's goal in Lisbon. Statistics show that in the first leg, Arsenal controlled the game, but were far from dominating, yet the 1-0 scoreline was a fair result.
Arsenal made very few passing errors, a hallmark of Arteta's style of play, which the team maintained even during this dreadful end-of-season slump. However, that's not the only factor giving the Gunners confidence; They have won 17 out of 18 European knockout ties in which they initially took the lead, and they haven't lost a European match at the Emirates since their last visit in the 2023/2024 season.
History is not on the Lions' side.
Unlike Arsenal, Sporting Lisbon has never overturned a European tie after losing by a single goal in the first leg. Similarly, their time in England has almost always been unsuccessful against Premier League opponents, failing to win on 10 previous occasions.
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Arsenal against Sporting Lisbon Lineups: Starting 11
Formation : 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Formation : 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Substitutes
T. Setford
K. Arrizabalaga
DefenderM. Salmon
B. White
MidfielderH. Dudziak
M. Lewis-Skelly
M. Dowman
C. Norgaard
ForwardL. Trossard
G. Jesus
K. Havertz
J. Virginia
DefenderG. Vagiannidis
Z. Debast
R. Mangas
MidfielderJ. Simoes
S. Blopa
D. Braganca
G. Kochorashvili
ForwardS. Faye
R. Nel
G. Quenda
F. Goncalves
Missing players
J. Timber
R. Calafiori
MidfielderM. Odegaard
M. Merino
ForwardB. Saka
Luis Guilherme
ForwardN. Santos
F. Ioannidis
Arsenal & Sporting Lisbon Squad Analysis
Among the bad news Arsenal has received this month, some encouraging news has emerged, such as Merino being the only confirmed absentee for the London team. This is an improvement, as the team had as many as seven players in the treatment room at the start of the month. Odegaard, Calafiori, Saka, and Timber are still carrying knocks, but for a match of this magnitude, it wouldn't be surprising if Arteta pushes them back; none have been ruled out.
Arteta, once again, must think and act wisely. Which men will start the attack? He has several options to choose from. It doesn't seem logical to bench Eze when he's in top form; in that spirit, Trossard could partner him, and Havertz and Martinelli could come off the bench this time.
As for Sporting, they will also field one of the best versions of their starting eleven; their lineup includes the Colombian Suárez, with 33 goals, whose suspension for the second leg due to yellow card accumulation has been denied.
Most goals and assists
Arsenal - Sporting Lisbon Key Points
- Arsenal achieved a perfect Champions League group stage
- Arsenal kept seven clean sheets
- Arsenal controlled 56% possession against Sporting CP in the first leg
- Sporting CP had 13 corner kicks in their last league match
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Our Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon Prediction
All of Arsenal's achievements this season will be meaningless if they don't solidify their position and win a title. Given their recent struggles domestically, the pressure is twofold, but they faced a similar situation in the 2024/2025 Champions League quarterfinals and ultimately eliminated the mighty Real Madrid.
The Portuguese clubs have encountered an insurmountable obstacle in this round, and all indications suggest it will remain so. Perhaps Arsenal will then be able to generate more attacking play than they did in the first leg.
Our prediction for Arsenal vs Sporting CP is: Arsenal -1.5.
Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon - Other Interesting Picks
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Viktor Gyokeres to score or assist.
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