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Français (Afrique)Arsenal XI vs Sporting CP – Predicted lineup and team news
Arsenal travel to Lisbon tonight, aiming to secure a vital away result in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The Gunners have reached this stage as the tournament’s most dominant defensive unit, conceding just 0.5 goals per match in Europe under Mikel Arteta.
They also arrive with a strong record against tonight’s opponents — unbeaten in seven meetings against Sporting, including a 5-1 win at this very stadium last season.
Arsenal have, however, progressed from just three of their last eight quarter-final ties, a reminder that pedigree alone will not be enough tonight.
Arsenal team news
Arteta heads into the tie with a significant defensive concern. Gabriel Magalhães is a major doubt after sustaining a knee injury during the FA Cup exit, with Cristhian Mosquera expected to step in alongside William Saliba at the heart of defence.
There is better news elsewhere, however. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are both back in contention after being rested at the weekend, while Jurriën Timber is also fit to feature after a minor groin issue.
David Raya will start in goal, having prevented more goals than any other goalkeeper in the competition this season. In midfield, Martin Zubimendi and Rice provide the platform for captain Martin Ødegaard to influence proceedings further forward.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will look to Viktor Gyökeres to provide the decisive edge. The striker returns to the club where he scored 97 goals and could become the first player to score both for and against Sporting in this competition — a subplot that adds an intriguing layer to an already compelling tie.
Arsenal predicted lineup
Arsenal Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Saliba, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard; Martinelli, Gyökeres, Saka
When will the match kick off?
The match is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off this Tuesday at the Estádio José Alvalade.
How to watch Sporting vs Arsenal?
UK viewers can watch the match live on Amazon Prime Video from 18:30 BST.
Read more- FA Cup Awards: Leeds win West Ham thriller, Classy Cherki
See Also- FA Cup draw: Leeds to face Chelsea in first semi-final for 39 years
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Sporting CP vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news
Arsenal head to the Estádio José Alvalade on Tuesday, aiming to salvage their season after consecutive domestic cup exits.
The Gunners lead the Premier League but face a defining moment in their European campaign. Recent losses to Manchester City and Southampton have dented their quadruple ambitions.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side remains the only unbeaten team in the Champions League this season. Crucially, this tie marks the high-profile return of Viktor Gyökeres to his former home. The Swede scored 97 goals for the Lions before joining Arsenal last summer.
Sporting CP enter their second-ever Champions League quarter-final in peak form at home. Rui Borges’ men are currently enjoying a formidable 17-match winning streak at the Estádio José Alvalade. They reached this stage by spectacularly overturning a three-goal deficit against Bodø/Glimt.
While the Lions have never beaten Arsenal in regulation time, they eliminated the Gunners on penalties in 2023. Historically, Portuguese clubs have lost all nine Champions League quarter-final meetings with English opposition.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news
- Date: Tuesday, 7 April 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 BST
- Venue: Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon
- Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER)
- VAR: Bastian Dankert (GER)
- Last Meeting: Sporting CP 1–5 Arsenal (November 2024, UCL)
Team News
Sporting CP
The Portuguese champions face a significant blow with captain Morten Hjulmand suspended for the first leg. Elsewhere, Geovany Quenda and Luis Guilherme are both ruled out through injury.
Giorgi Kochorashvili and Ricardo Mangas also remain unavailable for selection. Notably, Luis Suárez is one goal away from equaling the club’s single-season European scoring record.
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta manages a squad thinned by a growing list of defensive casualties. Gabriel Magalhães is a major doubt after suffering a knee injury on Saturday. However, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice should return after being rested in the FA Cup.
Jurriën Timber is also pushing to feature despite recent groin concerns. Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapié remain definitely ruled out.
Form
Sporting CP
Sporting have been unstoppable on home turf, winning all five of their Champions League matches in Lisbon this season. This represents the longest home winning streak by a Portuguese side in the competition since 1999.
Their resilience was clear in the last round, scoring five goals to overturn a heavy first-leg defeat. Statistically, Gonçalo Inácio has recorded more line-breaking passes than any other player in the knockout stages.
Arsenal
Arsenal boast the finest defensive record in the Champions League, conceding just 0.5 goals per match so far. They have trailed for only 43 minutes during the entire competition. While their domestic form has stuttered, the Gunners were perfect during the league phase. Significantly, David Raya has prevented 7.4 goals based on xG on target since the start of last season.
Predicted lineups
Sporting CP Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Silva; Vagiannidis, Diomande, Inácio, Mangas; Bragança, Morita; Catamo, Trincão, Gonçalves; Suárez
Arsenal Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Saliba, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard; Martinelli, Gyökeres, Saka
How to Watch Sporting CP vs Arsenal?
The match will be televised live in the UK on Amazon Prime Video. Coverage begins at 18:30 BST.
Read more- FA Cup draw: Leeds to face Chelsea in first semi-final for 39 years
See also- The teams with the most FA Cup semi-final appearances in history
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MLB Injury Report: Juan Soto, Hunter Brown, Mookie Betts highlight weekend injuries
Last week, I mentioned it was a relatively quiet first week on the injury front. Unfortunately, that's not the case this time around. A long list of weekend casualties is highlighted by Juan Soto, Hunter Brown, and Mookie Betts, among many others. On the bright side, Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki is set to return by week’s end. Let’s break it all down in the last MLB Injury Report.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Juan Soto (calf)
Soto drew immediate concerns when he was removed early in Friday’s game against the Giants after running from first to third in the first inning. He was held out of the lineup for the rest of the weekend and underwent imaging that revealed a mild right calf strain. The 27-year-old star outfielder was initially considered “day-to-day”, but is now set to miss at least 2-3 weeks on the injured list. It’s the smart move as calf injuries could be tricky. His absence seems to clear up some playing time in the short term for both Brett Baty and the hot-hitting Mark Vientos, with Baty likely taking over in left field and Vientos slotting in at first base.
Hunter Brown (shoulder)
This one came as a surprise Sunday morning when Brown was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder sprain. The move was retroactive to April 2. Brown apparently came out of his Friday bullpen session with some soreness. Astros GM Dana Brown stated the team was optimistic about Brown’s outlook, but didn’t provide a timeline. Hopefully, it’s a minimum stay for the 27-year-old right-hander. Brown was widely thought to be one of the more durable fantasy aces, good for plenty of volume, which makes this injury sting that much more. Cody Bolton stepped in to make the start on Monday against the Rockies. Meanwhile, Spencer Arrighetti has made two starts with Triple-A Sugar Land, tossing 8 1/3 scoreless with a 13/5 K/BB ratio. Arrighetti could be worth a stash in deeper leagues, given his strikeout upside. Astros manager Joe Espada had no updates on Brown on Monday, but did indicate that the team will use a six-man rotation starting later this week, with a 13-game stretch of no off days beginning Thursday.
Cade Horton (forearm)
This one is another incredibly unfortunate injury, and one with probably a less optimistic view. Horton left Friday’s start against the Guardians in the second inning with forearm discomfort following a significantly lower-than-average 93.8 mph fastball. He described the discomfort as starting in his wrist before it moved to his forearm. The team placed the promising 24-year-old right-hander on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 4. We probably won’t know much more until Horton is thoroughly evaluated, but the dreaded forearm strain doesn’t usually have a positive short-term outlook.
Matthew Boyd (biceps)
The Cubs’ rotation took another hit on Monday when Boyd was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left bicep strain. This was coming off an impressive start in which he struck out ten batters with one earned run allowed over 5 2/3 innings against the Angels last Wednesday. Apparently, he just didn’t recover well from that outing. The 35-year-old left-hander will now have the next two weeks to rest up and stated he believes he’ll make a speedy recovery. With both Boyd and Horton on the shelf, Javier Assad and Colin Rea figure to slot into the Cubs’ rotation, starting Tuesday and Wednesday against the Rays, respectively. Rea is the more interesting of the two for fantasy purposes. He saw an increase in his strikeout rate over the second half of 2025 and has struck out four batters over three innings of work in each of his two appearances this season.
Mookie Betts (oblique)
Betts was pulled from Saturday’s game against the Nationals after running the bases in the first inning with lower right back pain. An MRI revealed a right oblique strain that landed Betts on the 10-day injured list. It’s an injury that’ll typically sideline players for 4-6 weeks, though manager Dave Roberts is hopeful Betts will return sooner. Hyeseong Kim was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Betts on the active roster. Kim will likely be on the strong side of a platoon at shortstop with Miguel Rojas. Kim offers some stolen base upside in a great lineup, but little to no power. He could be considered in deep roto leagues as a middle infield streaming option.
Mike Trout (hand)
Trout left Sunday’s game against the Mariners after he was hit by a pitch on the left hand. Fortunately, X-rays came back negative, and the team opted not to run any other tests. Instead, Trout got the day off Monday to recover and is considered day-to-day.
Alejandro Kirk (thumb)
Kirk was removed in the tenth inning of Friday’s game against the White Sox after he was hit on the left thumb by a foul ball while behind the plate. The fact that he walked off in pain without trying to stay in was an obvious cause for concern. Imaging revealed a dislocation and fracture of Kirk’s left thumb. He’s set to undergo surgery this week, after which we should get a general timeline for his return. Tyler Heineman steps in as the Blue Jays’ primary catcher, though he offers very little fantasy upside.
Jordan Lawlar (wrist)
Lawlar was hit by a pitch last Thursday against the Braves. While initial X-rays were negative, a CT scan found a fracture in his right wrist that will sideline the 23-year-old outfielder for 6-8 weeks. It’s an unfortunate development for Lawlar as he seemed to be coming into his own as a big league player. He had hit safely in all but one game in the early going and had launched his first career home run earlier in Thursday’s contest. Tim Tawa and Jorge Barrosa stand to split time in the outfield to replace Lawlar, at least until Lourdes Gurriel Jr., recovering from a torn ACL, is ready to return. Playing time could once again be in question for Lawlar once he returns.
Zach Eflin (elbow)
Eflin was looking outstanding in his season debut last Tuesday, holding the Rangers to one run with seven strikeouts until he was pulled with two outs in the fourth inning with right elbow discomfort. The team placed Eflin on the 15-day injured list and is reportedly getting a second opinion on his initial evaluation by Dr. Keith Meister, which typically isn’t a good thing. It’s fair to speculate that Eflin could be looking at a lengthy absence. Brandon Young was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to help fill the rotation spot. He struck out two over five scoreless innings in a win against the White Sox on Monday, but his lack of strikeout upside makes him a speculative play only in the deepest of leagues.
Merill Kelly (back)
Kelly was up to 72 pitches in his last rehab outing with Triple-A Reno, tossing five scoreless innings. Manager Torey Lovullo said Sunday that the 37-year-old right-hander is slated for one more rehab start this week before rejoining the Diamondbacks rotation, likely during next week’s series in Baltimore. His return would seem to push Brandon Pfaadt out of the rotation, either to long relief or to Triple-A to remain stretched out.
Seiya Suzuki (knee)
Suzuki is on track to be activated from the injured list later this week, likely Friday when the Cubs open their weekend series at home against the Pirates. Matt Shaw and Michael Conforto have worked a platoon in right field, while Moisés Ballesteros and Miguel Amaya have gotten starts at designated hitter. It remains to be seen how the Cubs plan to utilize Suzuki coming off the injured list.
Nick Lodolo (blister)
Lodolo was due to come off the injured list this week until he suffered a setback in his rehab outing with Class-A Daytona last Thursday. He was expected to throw 60-65 pitches, but made it just 40 before he was pulled with a recurrence of the blister issue. The 28-year-old left-hander played catch on Monday, but there’s no word on when he could appear in another rehab game. He’ll likely need a couple of starts to build his pitch count back up once he’s passed the blister problem. All fantasy managers can do is be patient and hold.
Austin Hays (hamstring)
Hays pulled up limping while trying to field a ball in the outfield on Monday against the Orioles. He was removed from the game with a right hamstring strain that is expected to require a trip to the injured list. Derek Hill took over in left field on Monday and could get more looks in Hays' absence. Andrew Benintendi could also shift to more outfield starts, opening designated hitter for someone like Lenyn Sosa. From the team’s minor league depth, Sam Antonacci is a name to watch. The 23-year-old infielder is off to a great start with Triple-A Charlotte, hitting .346/.538/.615 with two homers and four steals through his first seven games.
Where do Man United Women go from here? There are financial and footballing issues to address
Manchester United Women’s slogan for the 2025-26 season is punchy and instructive.
Crafted by a member of the club’s senior hierarchy before the new season, it was meant to serve as a war cry going into a pivotal season. The team were finally in Europe but also fighting to establish themselves among the Women’s Super League’s top teams and compete with more established teams, such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.
But the slogan has become a point of fascination for what it does not say.
According to those inside and close to the women’s team, who, like all those in this piece, will remain anonymous to protect their positions, the slogan has demanded a form of suspended disbelief, a conscious effort to not say the quiet part out loud: that the odds the players are being instructed to defy are, in some part, perpetuated by the club they represent.
For many seasons, United’s players have achieved more than might realistically have been expected of them and this mindset has often been the source of the tight-knit spirit forged within the squad. On Wednesday, that spirit very nearly lifted United improbably into the Champions League semi-finals when Melvine Malard’s early strike in Munich brought the aggregate score to 3-3 with 79 minutes remaining in the second leg against eight-time quarter-finalists Bayern Munich.
But in the second half, familiar cracks appeared. United emerged with a slightly deeper midfield and a team affected by fatigue and injury (United fielded just four outfield players on the bench, one of whom was 18-year-old Jess Anderson, who made her Women’s Super League debut at the weekend). Bayern emerged with an attacking energy that United failed to match or counter.
After registering six shots, four on target, in the first half, United managed just one in the second, an expected goals (xG) total of 0 and 24 per cent possession. Bayern registered nine shots and an xG of 1.45. Despite United’s valiant defence, Bayern broke through with two goals from successive corners in the final 10 minutes to seal a 5-3 aggregate victory.
Ultimately, there was only so long before corner after corner (Bayern scored from their 12th and 13th of the match) would expose a season-long weakness at set pieces.
And there is only so long you can not only hold the line but defy it, too.
Where does this exit leave United Women? They are now out of Europe and the FA Cup, were defeated by Chelsea in the League Cup final and are scrapping for Champions League qualification in their final three Women’s Super League matches. What are the plans in place to ensure they return to the Champions League again, in a space where they are not perennially having to defy so many odds?
Those have been the recurring questions among United Women’s hierarchy and numerous members of United’s executive team this season, according to multiple sources familiar with the conversations.
After bringing in Jess Park, Fridolina Rolfo and Julia Zigiotti Olme but being outbid on two other players over the summer, discussions around alternative ways to increase investment began, including the possibility of external backing.
The need to explore investment streams into the women’s team has been recognised within the club since INEOS bought a minority stake in December 2024, but the pace has not been swift. In 2024, United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said that focusing on the operations and finances of the men’s setup had prevented him from fully engaging with the plan for the women’s team.
The stress placed on United’s limited squad while competing on multiple fronts this season has reinforced the need to keep up with the increasingly competitive demands in Europe and domestically..
A meeting in March was targeted as a critical point for senior personnel in the women’s setup and the executive team to have discussions with decision-makers about investment options for the women’s team, including the potential of selling a stake to an external party.
Club sources say the possibility of external investment was swiftly shut down and nothing concrete has been formulated. However, The Athletic has been told by multiple people familiar with the discussions that internal conversations remain ongoing, with final recommendations still to be made to the club’s board and owners.
As part of those conversations, a rebrand with subtle differences has also been raised, according to multiple sources familiar with the conversations, although there are no plans from senior leadership to make any such changes.
United are far from the only club considering potential investment streams for their women’s team. Last May, Reddit co-founder and Angel City co-founder Alexis Ohanian acquired a minority stake (approximately 10 per cent) in Chelsea Women for £20million ($26.4m), placing a valuation of over £200m on the women’s team. Everton Women confirmed a minority investment from Canadian-based GED Investments in December, while The Athletic reported in March that Sunderland Women were in advanced talks to sell a majority stake to U.S. investment firm Sixth Street via its women’s sport platform, Bay Collective.
The conversations remain ongoing within United partly because of this landscape but also out of growing necessity. Multiple people claim United have struggled to keep up with the changing market rates of player wages and transfer fees due to budget constraints, whereas club sources would counter this is a reflection of their sustainable approach.
At least two acquisitions in the recent January window were delayed deals they initially wanted in the previous summer window, and United have been unable to confirm one signing for the upcoming summer due to uncertainty around the squad’s recruitment budget from decision-makers in charge of the club’s overall budgets.
Throughout the season, various messages urging support have been sent to senior figures at the club, including a screenshot of United’s injury-depleted bench against one WSL rival.
Sources describe a team physically pushed to the limit because the squad is so stretched. The injury list includes defender Dominique Janssen, striker Ellen Wangerheim, full-back Anna Sandberg, forward Leah Galton, striker Elisabeth Terland and midfielder Ella Toone. Midfielder Simi Awujo was also forced off against Bayern Munich on Wednesday with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Training sessions have been reduced to tactical walkthroughs and analysis and recovery sessions due to apprehensions around potentially accruing more injuries.
However, to say there has been no investment would be disingenuous. In the five years Marc Skinner has been head coach, the club have made 37 signings. The team’s overall operating budget has increased from just under £5m in 2021-22 to £10.7m during the 2024-25 season, according to the team’s most recent accounts.
These numbers could be viewed as being a reflection of a sustainable investment model. However, some inside and outside the women’s team argue that an important distinction separates investing sustainably and investing enough to compete.
Last season, United spent £5.88m on wages, just over half of Arsenal’s £11.3m. Manchester City, who finished fourth in the WSL, reported operating expenses of £14m, £4m more than United’s budget. Chelsea have yet to report their accounts from the 2024-25 season, but their filings from the previous campaign, when they clinched a fifth successive WSL title while reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Champions League, indicated an overall operating budget of over £20m, double that of United’s.
In the five years under Skinner, United have finished fourth, second (a club high), fifth and third in the league. They have reached four major finals, albeit winning only one (a 4-0 victory in the 2023-24 FA Cup against Tottenham Hotspur), while losing the other three to Chelsea by an aggregate score of 6-0.
In the past two seasons, Skinner, who signed a new two-year deal last summer and retains the full support of the club, has managed three wins in 17 matches across all competitions against Chelsea, Arsenal and City. Manchester United have beaten Chelsea once their last in 19 attempts (an FA Cup semi-final in 2023-24), with Skinner winning and drawing once in 15 games against the west London club.
Some people close to the players and team have questioned Skinner’s ability to develop young, promising talent, stating he prefers instead to deal with established players already armed with ample senior experience.
Compared to the rest of the league, United rank lowest for minutes given to players under 21 years old. Before 16-year-old Layla Drury’s WSL debut on February 15, Skinner fielded a player under 21 years old for just 90 minutes across the whole league season. This came in the 3-0 defeat by Manchester City in November, when Wales goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel deputised for regular No 1 Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who had suffered a fractured eye socket.
A recurring refrain over the years — but specifically this season from sources in and close to the women’s setup — is that the “players deserve better”.
They say players receive little in the way of coaching instruction on the touchline during games and are left to improvise attacking patterns. Skinner does not get involved in much on-pitch coaching, nor does he generally lead technical sessions, instead trusting staff around him, given his obligations elsewhere.
During training sessions, these sources say some coaching staff either actively participate in sessions with the players (partly to make up numbers due to limited squad depth and injuries) or act as referees, rather than engaging in coaching.
Other people close to the team praise Skinner’s willingness to take public pressure away from the players and staff. They also say he is more tactically astute than he is given credit for, particularly given the constraints within which he is working, and is effective in the way he organises the team defensively.
The 43-year-old is also described as an efficient communicator in public and private settings, and regularly engages in one-on-one sessions with players when available.
Some players have responded well to having freedom to express themselves on the pitch but against savvier and stronger opponents in Europe and England, others have felt this method of coaching has left them vulnerable against strong opposition. In Wednesday’s second half, United struggled to offer any attacking solutions as the hosts consistently pushed them back.
United’s defending from corners and free kicks has also been criticised internally and externally this season. Long-time goalkeeper coach Ian Willcock, who was also responsible for set-piece defending and helped lead United to a WSL clean-sheets record in the 2022-23 season, was among a number of first-team staff to leave the club last summer. Willcock was replaced by former Liverpool Women goalkeeping coach Joe Potts.
This season, United have struggled to defend set pieces, losing 2-1 against Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round following a goal in extra time from a corner and succumbing to those two late Bayern goals from corners.
“We were knocked out in all our games from a set piece, in the FA Cup and now here,” captain Maya Le Tissier told Disney after Thursday’s defeat. “It’s something we need to work on.”
Man Utd's numbers for goals per 100 set-pieces conceded in the WSL (no data for all comps, which includes UWCL, bc data companies hate women's football)
21-22: 2.4
22-23: 2.0
23-24: 5.5
24-25: 2.2
25-26: 4.9— Megan Feringa (@megan_feringa) April 1, 2026
Skinner’s overall tactical setups have also come under scrutiny, most notably his decision to use striker Terland as a ‘No 10’ (attacking midfielder) against Chelsea in the League Cup final or striker Wangerheim, signed in January from Hammarby, as a winger.
Wangerheim explained to The Athletic during a League Cup final media day in February that she had been told during negotiations that she would be playing in the ‘No 9’ role (centre-forward). The club later signed forward Lea Schuller from Bayern Munich.
Speaking on February 10, Wangerheim said she needed “some training sessions and games” to get used to her new position on the wing. However, the congested fixture schedule has limited Schuller and Wangerheim’s non-competitive opportunities to acclimatise to their new league. A club source said it was laid out to Wangerheim at the outset that she would, at times, be asked to play on the wing.
The emotional end to United’s debut Champions League campaign will be a difficult pill to swallow, but with three league matches remaining, United will finish the season as they started: by trying to defy the odds. A place in Europe next season will likely require them to improve on that one-win-in-19 record against Chelsea on the final day, while picking up victories against fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.
How long United can hold that line beyond this season remains to be seen. Senior personnel from three clubs below United in WSL have, in conversations with The Athletic, singled out United as the team they are targeting to surpass next season, pointing not only to the financial limitations within which they operate in the transfer market but a lack of infrastructure surrounding the team.
“I’m incredibly proud of what my players are doing on resources we have,” Skinner said after their second-leg defeat by Bayern. “Because we wear Manchester United’s badge, everybody expects us to be the very best team in the world. We have that expectation too. Yet we’ve got to grow because we’re eight years old.
“You (can) give me all the flack. That’s no problem, that’s my job. But if we want to compete at this latter stage, we’ve seen what we’ve got to do, as a club. And then it’s our choice now, isn’t it?”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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