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The Champions League returns this week with the first legs of the quarter-final ties and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal travel to Portugal to take on Sporting CP.
The Gunners have been near perfect in European competition this season having finished top of the table during the league phase before coming through a tricky, if not hugely testing, last-16 tie with Bayer Leverkusen where they won 3-1 on aggregate.
However, there are signs of vulnerability creeping into Arteta’s squad after Arsenal lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. To make matters worse, those defeats – to Man City in the Carabao Cup final and to Southampton in the FA Cup – ended the Gunners’ journey in two competitions and they will hope to avoid a similar fate in Europe.
Sporting, meanwhile, will prove to be strong opponents. Having also finished inside the top eight in the Champions League table, they swept past Bodo/Glimt 5-3 in the last-16 and sit second in the Portuguese top-flight.
Here’s everything you need to know about this Champions League clash:
When is Sporting v Arsenal?
The Champions League first leg between Sporting and Arsenal is at 8pm BST on Tuesday 7 April at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal.
How can I watch it?
The match will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video with coverage beginning at 6.30pm. If you’re not an Amazon Prime Video subscriber you can start a free 30-day trial here.
What is the team news?
Luis Suarez is set to return to Sporting’s startin XI having missed their previous Champions League outing due to suspension. The hosts are without Fotis Ioannidis, Geovany Quenda and Nuno Santos, while Luis Guilherme is also a doubt due to an ankle problem. Captain Morten Hjulmand is suspended for this clash and will miss the first leg.
For Arsenal, Gabriel was taken off during the defeat to Southampton with an injury knock and might not be fit to feature. Other doubts are Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Jurrien Timber but there is more hope that each will be fit enough to return. Definitely out are Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapie and Mikel Merino who continue their recoveries from injury.
Predicted line-ups
Sporting XI: Silva; Vagiannidis, Diomande, Inacio, Mangas; Braganca, Morita; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
What has Mikel Arteta said?
Following the defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup, the Arsenal manager explained how his team are going through a difficult period but will remain focused for the run-in to the end of the season.
“Really disappointed in the manner that we lost the opportunity to get back to Wembley,” said Arteta. “Someone has to take responsibility. That’s me and we have the most beautiful period of the season ahead of us.
“This is the first moment that we have with a certain level of difficulty. We’re going to say difficulty when we’re going to play the Champions League quarter-finals and the run-up for the league.
“If this is a difficult period, I believe there are many other ones that are much more difficult, so let’s stand up, make yourself comfortable and deliver like we’ve been doing all season.”