Sporting CP 0 – 1 Arsenal – Match Report

We’ll bring a one-goal lead back to Emirates Stadium for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final next week, after Kai Havertz’s late, late strike in Lisbon.

There was little to choose between the team before Havertz stole in to score in injury-time. Both sides hit the bar in the opening 15 minutes – Raya superbly tipping a rising shot against the woodwork before Noni Madueke’s corner hit the frame of the goal – but after that neither side offered much in at attacking threat in the opening half.

Martin Zubimendi had the ball in the net in the second half, only for it to be ruled out by VAR for an offside against Viktor Gyokeres in the build-up.

But right at the end Havertz kept his cool to tuck home past the keeper from a great Martinelli pass.

Woodwork struck at both ends

In the opening ten minutes we had plenty of the ball in our own half, but were not really able to progress forward.

The first time the hosts sprung an attack, they very nearly took the lead. A fine pass from Ousmane Diomande inside his own half from deep found the advancing Maxi Araujo on the left, he took it beyond our defence into the area before smashing his shot goalwards. David Raya flung himself up to tip the drive against the bar with his fingertips and William Saliba was able to head the rebound to safety.

Araujo then fired just over from 20 yards before Geny Catamo forced a save from Raya at his near post.

We needed to impose ourselves on the game. Noni Madueke was finally able to run at his man, and found Gyokeres in the box with a low cross. The Swedish striker, who scored 97 goals for Sporting across the past two seasons and was largely warmly welcomed back to his former home, was crowded out before he could lay the ball off to Leandro Trossard.

Shortly afterwards, a dangerous inswinging Martin Odegaard free kick was headed behind for our first corner of the game, from which Madueke directly hit the bar. Odegaard drove the rebound wide.

Zubi’s strike ruled out

The first-half action was largely condensed into the opening 15 minutes. The start of the second half also yielded few opportunities.

Odegaard’s dipping free-kick needed to be tipped behind by Rui Silva, while at the other end Trincao shot wide when well placed.

Midway through the half we finally had the ball in the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

Zubimendi’s first time shot superbly found the bottom corner from the edge of the box, but Gyokeres had been caught offside in the build-up.

We were creating some momentum now though against the Portuguese champions.

Havertz leaves it late

Sporting had won all five of their home games in the Champions League so far this season, including against the holders PSG, and had been on a 16-match winning streak at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in all competitions going into the game. So this was always going to be a tough task.

As we entered the final 15 minutes Mikel Arteta sent on Max Dowman and Gabriel Martinelli to inject some zip into our attack.

Martinelli forced a save low down from Rui Silva while at the other end Raya made a double save at his near post.

Then as the game ticked into two minutes injury time, we finally got the breakthrough. Martinelli found Havertz bursting through the middle of the box, and the German kept his composure to slot home.

So we have a narrow advantage as we head to Emirates Stadium next week, looking to make it consecutive Champions League semi-final appearances for the first time in our history.

What’s next

The second leg of this tie is at Emirates Stadium next Wednesday, to determine who will go through to the semi-final to face either Atletico Madrid or Barcelona. But before that we host Bournemouth in the Premier League, in Saturday’s early kick-off.