UEFA Champions League Preview: Arsenal vs. Sporting CP – Tuesday, November 26, 2024

After signaling a potential early-winter resurgence with a morale-boosting 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest last weekend, The Gunners turn their attention back to Champions League action, facing Portuguese champions Sporting CP at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday night.

While Sporting CP famously ousted Arsenal from the 2022-23 Europa League on penalties, they have yet to record a victory over the Gunners within 90 minutes.

Mikel Arteta’s side returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, dispatching Forest 3-0, while Sporting CP began life under new head coach Joao Pereira in emphatic fashion, thrashing Amarante 6-0 in the Taca de Portugal on Friday night. 

Arsenal Seek Momentum After Forest Triumph (+125 at EveryGame)

A two-week international hiatus appears to have rejuvenated Mikel Arteta’s side. A near-flawless display against a previously resolute Nottingham Forest ended Arsenal’s frustrating four-match winless streak in the top-flight. Thus, the Gunners remain fourth in the Premier League, level on 22 points with London rivals Chelsea (3rd) and Brighton in fifth, and nine points behind leaders Liverpool. 

Stunning strikes from Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey set the tone before 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri sealed the victory with his maiden Premier League goal. Nwaneri became the second-youngest Arsenal player to score in the competition, trailing only Cesc Fabregas in that regard.

Despite his promising cameo against Inter Milan in the Champions League earlier this month, the teenager couldn’t rescue his boyhood club from a 1-0 defeat at the San Siro, where a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty handed the Gunners their first Champions League defeat of the campaign.

That setback saw the North London outfit slip to 12th place in the revamped 36-team group stage standings, though they remain just two points off the top eight, which guarantees progression to the knockout rounds.

With captain Martin Odegaard back in action, Arsenal aim to banish their recent struggles on the road in Europe. However, their Champions League away form has been dismal – five consecutive games without a win, and they’ve failed to score in their last four outings. Should they fire blanks again, they’d match an unwanted record – the only Premier League side to ever gone scoreless in five consecutive away games in Europe’s premier tournament – held by Manchester United from 2004-05.

Arsenal’s squad is close to full strength. Long-term absentees Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney remain sidelined, though Tierney has resumed training. Meanwhile, influential figures like Riccardo Calafiori, Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard, and Bukayo Saka all shook off recent injury concerns to feature against Forest.

Rice is expected to reclaim his starting spot in the middle, supporting a fresh Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz. Arteta also faces a tactical decision between the defensive solidity of Partey or the creativity of Mikel Merino in the engine room.

Sporting CP Riding High Under New Management (+225 at EveryGame)

The Sportinguistas had a very warm farewell with Ruben Amorim, who had several more games to extend his legacy in the Portuguese capital after the announcement that he’s set to join English giants Manchester United. 

Despite losing esteemed coach Rúben Amorim to the Red Devils, Sporting CP show no signs of slowing down under Joao Pereira, Ruben Amorim’s successor, who made an explosive start with a 6-0 demolition of Amarante. Among the scorers was … guess who? Viktor Gyokeres, a rumored Arsenal transfer target, who already boasts 24 goals and four assists in 19 appearances across all competitions this season. 

The Swedish forward also tormented Premier League opposition earlier in the campaign, netting a hat-trick in Sporting CP’s 4-1 dismantling of Manchester City in Amorim’s final Champions League match in charge.

Sporting, second only to Liverpool in this season’s Champions League rankings, are chasing their 10th consecutive win across all competitions. Their nine-match streak has yielded a remarkable 31 goals. Moreover, the Lisbon outfit are on a formidable 14-game home winning run since a Europa League draw with Atalanta (eventual champions) in March.

The Green and Whites are likely without Nuno Santos and playmaker Pedro Goncalves (Pote). In Goncalves’s absence, former Tottenham youngster Marcus Edwards, who netted twice against Amarante, could join Trincao and Gyokeres in a potent attacking trident.

Possible Starting Lineups of Sporting CP and Arsenal 

Sporting CP: Franco Israel – Zeno Debast, Ousmane Diomande, Goncalo Inacio – Geovany Quenda, Hidemasa Morita, Morten Hjulmand, Maximiliano Araújo – Francisco Trincao, Viktor Gyokeres, Geny Catamo. (3-4-3)

Arsenal: David Raya – Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori – Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice – Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli. (4-3-3) 

Spooky Express Betting Predictions 

For Tuesday night’s Champions League clash between Sporting CP and Arsenal, the odds at Everygame slightly favor the visiting Gunners at +125, while hosts Sporting CP are valued at +225 to secure a home victory. The odds of a draw sit at +240, making this an intriguing matchup for bettors. All odds are available at EveryGame, providing an exciting range of options for the SpookyExpress.com readers ahead of this high-stakes European clash.

If Arsenal had faced Sporting CP before the international break and without Odegaard, the Primeira Liga leaders might have been favorites to emulate their stunning victory over Manchester City. However, Arsenal’s commanding display against Forest could mark the start of a winter revival.

While an Amorim-less Sporting’s firepower should still ensure an enthralling contest, Arsenal may finally end their hosts’ perfect home record, though a share of the spoils appears the likeliest outcome in this Champions League classic.

Spooky Express Free Play: Outcome And Totals – Sporting CP or Draw (1X) and Over 1.5 Goals +115 at EveryGame for 5/10 Units

Spooky Express Free Play 2: Anytime Goalscorer – Viktor Gyokeres +165 at EveryGame for 4/10 Units