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Sporting CP will look to add to Arsenal's recent misery on Tuesday, 7 April, when they welcome the Gunners to Lisbon for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final showdown.
The hosts reached this stage of the competition courtesy of a stunning comeback against Bodo/Glimt in the round of 16, and they will look to make full use of their home support once again here to give themselves a chance ahead of the second leg in London next week.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our Today's betting tips page for more of our free expert UEFA Champions League predictions.
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Sporting CP vs Arsenal key stats
- Sporting Lisbon have won their last 17 home matches in all competitions.
- Arsenal have failed to win each of their last three matches away from the Emirates Stadium.
- More than two goals have been scored in each of Sporting's last five matches.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal preview: Hosts to come out on top
| Sporting CP | vs | Arsenal |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd(Primeira Liga) | Position | 1st(Premier League) |
| 68 | Points | 70 |
| 72 | Goals For | 61 |
| 17 | Goals Against | 22 |
| 13 | Clean Sheets | 15 |
| 2nd | Home Rank | 1st |
| 2nd | Away Rank | 1st |
Sporting Lisbon are widely being looked at as the weakest of the eight sides that can still win the Champions League this season, but that should give the Portuguese side plenty of motivation ahead of the clash with Arsenal on Tuesday night.
Sporting are a side that shouldn't be taken lightly, particularly at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. In the last six months, they have inflicted Porto's only league defeat of the season here and have also downed the reigning European champions, PSG.
While there are question marks around their performances away from home, particularly in Europe, that is a conversation for next week. Rui Borges will be hoping that we have that conversation in the context of Sporting having a lead to hold on to at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have never beaten a Portuguese side away from home in the knockout stages of a major European competition.
There is no doubt that the comeback victory over Bodo/Glimt has had a positive impact on Borges' men, too. They have scored four goals in each of their last two matches and have closed the gap on Porto at the top of the Primeira Liga.
In terms of team selection on Tuesday night, Borges will be without the injured trio of Nuno Santos, Fotis Ioannidis and Geovany Quenda, and the suspended Morten Hjulmand.
As for Arsenal, this match was always going to be a big one, but it now feels slightly more significant in light of their FA Cup defeat against Southampton at the weekend.
Arsenal have been eliminated from five of their eight UEFA Champions League quarter-final ties.
The Gunners toiled throughout the 90 minutes and were ultimately well beaten by their Championship opponents, in a result that has raised further questions around whether this squad is capable of winning trophies.
Mikel Arteta will still believe his side is capable of a Premier League and Champions League double, and a return to European action could be what they need. After all, they are the only side to have not lost in the competition this season, and have already beaten the likes of Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.
Arteta will be without Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapie and Mikel Merino for the match on Tuesday, while there are also huge doubts over Gabriel, after the defender hobbled off against Southampton.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal form guide & betting tips
| Sporting CP | vs | Arsenal |
|---|---|---|
| D-L-W-W-W | Form | D-W-W-L-L |
| 15 | Goals For | 6 |
| 8 | Goals Against | 5 |
| W-L-W | Champions League | W-D-W |
Whispers predicts: Sporting 2-1 Arsenal
Sporting's home form this season, compounded with Arsenal's recent woes in cup competitions, leans us towards a shock result on Tuesday. Sporting to win has been priced at 15/4.
You can nearly always guarantee goals when Sporting Lisbon play at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. A total of 15 goals have been scored across the last four matches played here, and over 2.5 goals has been priced at 10/11.
Luis Suarez has scored four goals across Sporting's last three home Champions League matches. Suarez is priced at 23/10 to score anytime on Saturday.
> Sporting CP to win at 15/4 | Likelihood: Outsider
> Over 2.5 goals at 10/11 | Likelihood: Probable
> Luis Suarez to score anytime at 23/10 | Likelihood: Possible