The Gunners hold a slender 1-0 aggregate lead after a hard-fought first-leg victory in Lisbon.

Leg 1 Summary

In the first leg at Estádio José Alvalade on April 7, Arsenal secured a vital 1-0 win thanks to Kai Havertz's stoppage-time winner. The German forward produced a composed finish in the 90+1st minute following excellent work from Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal showed resilience and defensive solidity to grind out the result against a dangerous Sporting side.

What Arsenal Need to Do to Advance

Mikel Arteta's men are clear favourites at home. To secure a place in the semi-finals, Arsenal should aim for:

•A clean sheet or a controlled victory (any win puts them through).

•High pressing and midfield dominance to limit Sporting's transitions.

•Clinical finishing from stars like Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Havertz.

•Smart game management - avoid unnecessary risks while exploiting home crowd energy.

A draw would also be enough for Arsenal to progress on aggregate.

Sporting CP must chase the game aggressively. They need to score at least twice without reply to turn the tie around (or force extra time). Viktor Gyökeres remains their biggest threat, while coach Rui Borges will demand intensity and creativity from open play and set pieces.

Arsenal's strong home European record and squad depth give them the edge, but Sporting's counter-attacking ability means the Gunners cannot afford complacency. Expect a tense, high-stakes night in north London as Arsenal look to take another step towards Champions League glory.