Key occasions
Team information
Sporting XI (4-2-3-1): Silva; Fresneda, Diomande, Inácio, Araújo; Simões, Morita; Catamo, Trincão, Gonçalves; Suárez.
Subs: Virgina, Callai, Debast, Vagiannidis, Kochorashvili, Faya, Bragança, Gonçalves, Quaresma, Nel, Magnes.
João Simões is Rui Borges’ alternative to exchange the suspended Morten Hjulmand – Sporting’s captain – in midfield. The 19-year-old has began eight of the ten video games his aspect has performed the competitors up to now.
Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Gyökeres, Trossard.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Ranson, Mosquera, Jesus, Martinelli, Nørgaard, Havertz, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Annous, Salmon.
As anticipated, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Jurriën Timber are usually not concerned because of harm. David Raya returns as goalkeeper and Ben White begins at right-back within the absence of Timber. Gabriel Magalhães, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard all additionally return into the beginning XI.
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany)
Sporting: This could also be dubbed the unofficial Viktor Gyökeres derby and it stays to be seen how a lot impression the Swede may have as he returns to his former stomping floor.
However, Sporting followers have a brand new, shiny striker to boast about in Luis Suárez (no, not that one) of Colombia. Where Gyökeres stood out for bodily energy – bullying defenders, dominating duels and attacking area behind the backline – Suárez operates otherwise. He is way extra concerned within the buildup, dictating actions within the last third. He has superior approach to Gyökeres, even when he’s barely much less deadly. With 33 targets in 42 appearances, the 28-year-old has shortly made supporters neglect his predecessor and tops the league’s scoring chart.
Read extra from Miguel Dantas beneath.
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta has insisted that his aspect is not going to panic after shedding successive video games for the first time this season however admitted that they need to rediscover their id to get their marketing campaign again on observe.
The Premier League leaders noticed their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple crumble with defeats by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and the Championship aspect Southampton in the FA Cup.
Asked whether or not he was involved about his aspect’s capacity to deal with stress conditions, Arteta mentioned:
No. I feel when you might have the chance that we’ve, that must be taken by pleasure, by getting ready your self in the very best means, specializing in the current and on the issues that we’ve to do. And particularly in our id, it’s very clear what’s taking us on the best way to the place we’re, and that’s the place we’ve to focus.
There are elements and identities created by behaviours, not with phrases on the earth, or with issues that I need to obtain. And we’ve so many information within the areas that, in our opinion, make us the crew and the membership that we’re.
Read extra from Ed Aarons beneath.
Preamble
It has not been the very best fortnight for Arsenal, having misplaced the Carabao Cup last and been knocked out of the FA Cup in back-to-back matches. They will hoping to keep away from a 3rd consecutive loss in Lisbon as they tackle Sporting for his or her Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Still, the Premier League is kind of secured (too early to say that?!) and Mikel Arteta’s males will again themselves on this tie as they proceed their pursuit of European glory, having been the one aspect this season but to undergo defeat on this competitors.
As underdogs, Sporting will hope that they will make the most of their house type, having received their final 17 matches at at Estádio José Alvalade. Five of these wins have come within the Champions League this season, together with a wide ranging 5-0 thumping within the second leg of the final 16 after needing to turnaround a 3-0 loss at Bodø/Glimt.
Can the Portuguese giants strike first or will Arsenal seize management? Join me for the 8pm BST kick-off in Lisbon and, as all the time, get in touch via email when you have any ideas, predictions, questions, complaints or considerations. Team information to comply with shortly.
