WIN UEFA Champions League: Sporting CP 1 - 5 Arsenal | Tuesday, November 26 | KO: 20:00 GMT | TNT Sports

- The defeat of Manchester City on Matchday 4 ended Sporting's run of three successive draws, and four in five matches (W1), against Premier League opponents. A 0-5 loss to City in the 2021/22 Champions League round of 16 first leg is Sporting's only reverse in their last eight games with English clubs – a run that includes five draws.

- The Lions have won nine of their 15 home games against English visitors although Matchday 4 was only their second in the last six (D1 L3), the other a 2-0 defeat of Tottenham on 2022/23 Champions League Matchday 2.

- Sporting are making their 11th appearance in the Champions League proper, and a third in four seasons.

- The most recent came in 2022/23, when the Lions finished third in their section behind Tottenham and Eintracht Frankfurt.

- Sporting went on to reach the Europa League quarter-finals two seasons ago and also spent 2023/24 in that competition. Second in their section behind eventual champions Atalanta, Amorim's side beat Young Boys 4-2 on aggregate in the knockout round play-offs only to once again lose out to Atalanta in the round of 16 (2-3 aggregate).

- The Portuguese club have five victories in their last 14 home European games (D4 L5). In the Champions League, they have won seven of their last 14 matches in Lisbon, losing the other seven.

- Arsenal beat Sporting's domestic rivals Porto 4-2 on penalties in last season's round of 16 after each team had won 1-0 at home.

- That second-leg success was just the Gunners' second in their last seven matches against Portuguese teams (D4 L1); the first-leg loss is their only reverse in ten (W4 D5).

- The 1-0 win at Sporting in 2018 is Arsenal's only victory in their nine visits to Portugal, where they were unbeaten in three matches (W1 D2) before losing at Porto last season. Their 2023 draw at Sporting is the only game in which they scored more than once; they managed just four goals in total in the other eight games.

- Arteta played in both legs as Everton won 2-1 at home but lost 3-0 away against Sporting in the 2009/10 Europa League round of 32.

Last time we met:


Possible lineup:


Prediction: Sporting 1-1 Arsenal

 

[GDeep™]

Is this the most boring CL EVER? I say yes. Nobody knows what’s going on, feels like the club version of the Nations League.

That big CL night hype has GONE.

 

[Riou]

Thinking of those injuries to Saliba and Tomiyasu that forced us to play Robert Holdini and ruin our 2023 season, the last time we played this lot...

 

[A_G]

Is this the most boring CL EVER? I say yes.

Only until 2025, when that year’s iteration of the CL be the worst and most boring you’ve EVER seen.

 

[GDeep™]

Only until 2025, when that year’s iteration of the CL be the worst and most boring you’ve EVER seen.

We call that a decline. For example, the standard of the PL this season is the worst we’ve ever seen, dropping from last year.

CL is way too watered down now. Makes more money I guess, but the product is not at the level it once was.

 

[Rex Caudillo]

Heard Sporting CP was Huw Edwards favourite team

 

[jones]

Heard Sporting CP was Huw Edwards favourite team

Going to fly over many people's heads this one

 

[jones]

Is this the most boring CL EVER? I say yes. Nobody knows what’s going on, feels like the club version of the Nations League.

That big CL night hype has GONE.

I don't mind the format, creates a sense of urgency and unpredictability in how everyone plays different teams. Quality of teams is in the gutter yes but can't blame the new group phase.

 

[Deleted member x1214]

Why no @Oxeki?

His matchday threads are sweet and thoughtful, this one is harassment.

 

[Riou]

Why no @Oxeki?

His matchday threads are sweet and thoughtful

You have accidentally made @Oxeki seem like this, tbh...

...not sure my boy will ever recover from it now

 

[Oxeki]

Why no @Oxeki?

His matchday threads are sweet and thoughtful, this one is harassment.

@A_G wants diversity.

 

[A_G]

Why no @Oxeki?

His matchday threads are sweet and thoughtful, this one is harassment.

Guy was MIA. 48 hours before kickoff and nothing. These are not the foggin estandards.

 

[Riou]

We played them in our run to winning the Fairs Cup in 1970...I am not sure if it this counts as a full trophy as it was sort of invitation based, but always nice to win regardless.

We beat them 3-0 at Highbury after drawing in Portugal 0-0, future California Surf (yes this was a real team) star George Graham with the brace!

 

[A_G]

@A_G wants diversity.

My first match thread since May 28, 2023

 

[2Smokeyy]

Gyokeres vs Saliba/Gabriel should be an interesting battle.

Pretty sure @Rex Stone will be keeping a close eye on his guy Hjulmand too.

 

[OnlyOne]

Gyokeres vs Saliba/Gabriel should be an interesting battle.

Pretty sure @Rex Stone will be keeping a close eye on his guy Hjulmand too.

Can already see AM being 'unsure' of Gyokores after watching him for the first time Tuesday.

 

[OnlyOne]

Come at a bit of a sh*t time this game, getting players back is nice but I'd rotate again, if we can bench Timber and Cala I would.

 

[GDeep™]

Come at a bit of a sh*t time this game, getting players back is nice but I'd rotate again, if we can bench Timber and Cala I would.

Every game seems at a “abit of **** time” for this fan base recently.

 

[OnlyOne]

Every game seems at a “abit of **** time” for this fan base recently.

Yep, not been a good start to the season and we've got massive fitness issues.

 

[db10_therza]

Big test this. Not because Sporting are an amazing team or anything (they’re decent but no more than that). But because it’s a European away game.

If Arteta lets us play the way we did against Forest we’ll make light work of them. Attackers rotating fluidly with movement and overloads in central areas making it easier for us to progress the ball into dangerous areas.

But the fact that he rested our 2 biggest duel winners this weekend makes me worry he will try and haraamball a result. And he obviously has priors here with European away games.

Let’s see