Sporting Lisbon vs. Arsenal: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

It's hard to know what to expect from Sporting given this is only their second game without Ruben Amorim, and their first game came against lower league opposition. Regardless, it would be unwise to expect a significant dropoff so early, and with home advantage on their side it's likely they're going to be a stuff test for Arsenal.

Since making their return to the Champions League last season, the Gunners have looked really poor when playing away from home, winning just one of six away games. Ultimately, Sporting have won 17 and drawn one of their last 18 games, and with how rocky Arsenal are away from home in this competition it's hard to be confident in them coming away with a win. Sporting CP 1-1 Arsenal.

Arsenal go in search of a sorely-needed Champions League win as they head to the Portuguese capital to take on Sporting CP.

• Date: 26/11/2024
• Kick-off time: 20:00
• Location: Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon

Sporting CP are currently 2nd in the Champions League table with ten points. Also top of the Primera League table, the Portuguese club have enjoyed a flying start to the season but there is some scepticism over whether or not they can maintain their level. Sporting have been rocked by the departutre of manager Ruben Amorim, who has now joined Manchester United. Amorim has extracted 120% out of his squad over the last few years and his replacement, former Sporting player João Pereira, is extremely inexperienced at this level.

Still, though, the quality in the squad is undeniable, with striker Viktor Gyökeres, who has 24 goals in 19 games this season, currently one of Europe's most in form and highly coveted players. On top of that, defender Ousmane Diomande and midfielder Morten Hjulmand are both excellent talents, while 17-year-old Geovany Quenda is one of Europe's most exciting players.

The way in which Sporting have started this season's Champions League campaign has been a shock to many, with the Portuguese club looking well on course for automatic progression to the knockout stages, and with Arsenal, Club Brugge, RB Leipzig and Bologna left to play, you'd have to say they've got every chance.

Sporting played Arsenal in the Europa League just two seasons ago and beat the Gunners via a penalty shootout in what was an excellent tactical performance, and given how consistently poor Arsenal look on the road in Europe they'll probably fancy their chances.

Arsenal are currently 12th in the Champions League with seven points from four games. It's been a fairly average Champions League campaign so far for an Arsenal side that will feel as though they've underachieved. The Gunners produced a dominant win over PSG, but a loss away at Inter Milan and a draw away at Atalanta were very underwhelming results, even if the performance at Inter was solid, and a narrow win over Shakhtar Donetsk wasn't the most convincing showing either.

For all of Arsenal's improvements in the Premier League under Arteta, they have a frustrating habit of delivered very disjointed, uninspiring performances in this competition, particularly away from home. If they want to make any significant progress in the Champions League, they need to start stamping their authority on games away from home in Europe.

Mikel Arteta's side have been blighted by injury troubles this season but with captain Martin Ødegaard back fully fit and firing, they'll eagre to be back playing in the Champions League.

The Gunners are currently in the playoff places but are only two points behind Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona in the automatic spots, and with Sporting, Monaco, Dinamo Zagreb and Girona left to play, they really should have an automatic qualifying spot in their own hands come January.

This game will be televised live to all subscribed UK viewers on TNT Sports 1.

Sporting CP Team News:

Sporting CP should have a very healthy squad for this one, with only Pedro Gonçalves and Nuno Santos likely to be missing.

In Gonçalves' absence, Marcus Edwards should feature from the start.

Predicted lineup: Israel; Reis, Inácio, Diomande; Quenda, Morita, Hjulmand, Araújo; Trincão, Gyökeres, Edwards.

Arsenal Team News:

Arsenal are once again set to be without Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney, while Ben White is set to spend the nexr few months on the sidelines.

Declane Rice could work his way back into the starting lineup after he was an unused substitute at the weekend, while Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are also likely to come back into the XI.

Predicted lineup: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Ødegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

Sporting's form is excellent as they head into this one with five wins from their last five matches. The Portuguese giants took on Amarante in the Taça da Liga at the weekend and emerged 6-0 winners, with Marcus Edwards (X2), Ricardo Esgaio, Conrad Harder, Trincão and Viktor Gyökeres grabbing the goals.

Before that, goals from Hidemasa Morita, Morten Hjulmand and Conrad Harder (X2) secured a 4-2 win away at Braga, a result that followed a thumping 4-1 win over Manchester City in this competition, where Gyökeres grabbed a hat-trick.

Prior to that, Sporting secured resounding wins over Estrela (5-1) and Nacional (3-1).

Arsenal's form patchy, with the Gunners having won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five. At the weekend, goals from Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Ethan Nwaneri gave them a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, a result that followed a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, where despite taking the lead through gabriel Martinelli, they were ultimately pegged back.

Before that, Mikel Arteta's team fell to successive 1-0 defeats at the hands of Inter Milan and Newcastle, which came after a thumping 3-0 win over Preston North End in the EFL Cup.

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