Arsenal have won nine out of ten matches
The Portuguese side let Rúben Amorim go to Manchester United during last season. However, they still managed to secure the “golden double.” This season they started with a defeat to Benfica in the Super Cup. In the Primeira Liga, they are trailing Porto—though they did beat them 1-0 in the first leg of the cup semi-final.
The English club finished second in the Premier League last season, this time behind Liverpool. But now they are confidently leading, having created a gap from Manchester City. They also faced City in the EFL Cup final and lost 0-2. After the international break, their campaign resumed with the cup, where they sensationally lost to Southampton over the weekend.
Rui Borges’s men have surprised twice in the Champions League. First, in the group stage, the team managed five wins and sixteen points, finishing seventh by tiebreakers. Second, after a heavy 0-3 away defeat to Bodø/Glimt, they managed a comeback at home, scoring three unanswered goals in regular time and adding two more in extra time.
Ødegaard and company set a new record—becoming the first to win all eight group-stage matches in the Champions League’s main round. But in Leverkusen, starting the playoffs, they nearly lost—equalizing only in a penalty shoot-out at the end. However, they then produced a “grandmaster”-like 2-0 win at home.
Previous Matches: Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal
There have been five head-to-head encounters. The English team won the first and last meetings, with three draws in between.
There are no serious arguments in favor of the hosts. We believe Arteta’s men will win away (odds – 1.85).
Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal: Key Statistics and Trends
Sporting Lisbon have won three of their last four league matches
The team scores an average of 2.40 goals per game, conceding 1.40
Arsenal have won nine out of ten matches
The club scores an average of 2.6 goals and concedes just 0.5 per game
Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal: Probable Starting Lineups
Sporting Lisbon play in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (probable lineup): Rui Silva – Fresneda, Quaresma, Inácio, Araújo – Ugarte, Morita – Catamo, Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves – Luis Suárez. Kenda and Ioannidis are out.
Arsenal also play in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (probable lineup): Raya – White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié – Zubimendi, Rice – Saka, Eze, Trossard – Gyökeres. Merino, Timber, and Ødegaard are still not ready to return to the pitch.