Arsenal vs Sporting CP Champions League preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, form, coaches' thoughts

Arsenal welcome Sporting CP to north London for the conclusion of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday 15 April.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What you need to know

Kai Havertz's beautifully taken last-gasp winner – engineered by Gabriel Martinelli – settled the first leg in Lisbon as Arsenal claimed a 1-0 victory. Both sides created chances at the Estádio José Alvalade, but Havertz's third goal in four Champions League games sealed Arsenal's tenth win of the campaign and extended their unbeaten run in the competition. The Gunners are now also yet to lose in six European meetings with Sporting CP (W3 D3), including a 5-1 win in last season's league phase.

Sporting CP, though, remain firmly in the tie. While their record against English opposition is modest – two wins in their last 14 UEFA competition meetings – they have historically fared well over two legs, progressing from nine of ten ties, and overcame Arsenal on penalties in the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League round of 16. The Gunners, meanwhile, have lost only one of their last 12 matches against Portuguese sides, but Sporting CP – already matching their best-ever run in the competition – will believe they can go one step further.

Possible line-ups

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Nørgaard; Madueke, Eze, Trossard; Gyökeres

Sporting CP: Rui Silva; Quaresma, Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Araújo; Hjulmand, Morita; Catamo, Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves; Suárez

Form guide

Arsenal

Form: LWLLWW (most recent game first)
Latest: Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth, 11/04, English Premier League

Sporting CP

Form: WLWWWL
Latest: Club Football Estrela 0-1 Sporting CP, 11/04, Portuguese First Division

Views from the camps

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach: "We are trying to do something that has not been done in the history of the club [by winning the Champions League] so that shows you the difficulty. We value a lot where we are. We are competing to win the Premier League, and we are in a really strong position without having won it for 22 years. What do I want to see from the players? No fear, pure fire. That's it. That is what I want to see."

Eberechi Eze, Arsenal midfielder: "We all know the position we're in, we know what is at stake. [We have] loads of confidence and loads of belief. I think there is a freshness not having experienced negative things. But from what I can see there is so much belief, so much confidence."

Rui Borges, Sporting CP coach: "We have to maintain our identity regardless of the opponent or the competition. I don't need to talk about hunger, because the players demonstrate courage. We have to enjoy the game, chasing something unprecedented, but we have to be aware of the difficulties. We have to do what no one has done in the Champions League, which is to beat Arsenal."

Maximiliano Araújo, Sporting CP defender: "We know it's going to be very difficult, but we had plenty of chances [in the first leg]. It'll be even tougher [in London], but that's football, and we'll have to put in a great performance without making any mistakes if we're to turn this around."

Reporter's view

Joseph Terry, match reporter
The stakes for Arsenal are incredibly high as they continue to compete both domestically and in Europe, so it will be interesting to see if there is any knock-on effect from Saturday's damaging loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League. Nevertheless, the Gunners have an unblemished record at home in the Champions League this season, so they will back themselves to reach their second consecutive semi-final. Sporting CP have only won once on their travels in Europe this year, thanks to a last-minute winner against Athletic Club in Matchday 8, so they will need to conjure up some of that magic if they are to advance.