Arsenal is coming: Sporting has never won, but has a good examp..

Sporting will face Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals, an opponent they have never beaten in seven official matches. However, while it’s true they’ve never won against the Gunners, 2023 offers a great example for what’s to come in the tie to be played on April 7/8 (at Alvalade) and April 14/15 (at the Emirates).

Exactly three years ago, in March 2023, Sporting eliminated Arsenal in the Europa League round of 16. After a 2-2 draw at Alvalade, they drew 1-1 in England (in a game with a famous goal from Pedro Gonçalves from midfield) and won the penalty shootout 5-3.

Six survivors from this qualifying round (plus two)

Regarding the players used in that 2023 qualifying round, six remain with Sporting: Gonçalo Inácio, Ousmane Diomande, Hidemasa Morita, Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos, and Francisco Trincão . Daniel Bragança was also part of the squad, but he was injured (and didn’t even play a single game in 2022/23). Luís Neto also remains from that team , but now as an assistant coach.

Four draws and three losses in total. The last one was the heaviest.

While 2023 brings back good memories against Arsenal, albeit without victories, the last duel, for the 2024/25 Champions League group stage on November 26, 2024, holds the worst memory for Sporting, who suffered their worst defeat against Arsenal that day, amidst four draws in their history. With João Pereira at the helm, after Amorim’s departure and before Rui Borges’ arrival, Sporting lost 5-1 at Alvalade.

In that game, ten players from the current squad lined up: Diomande, Inácio, Maxi Araújo, Morten Hjulmand, Morita, Geovany Quenda, Francisco Trincão (as starters) and João Simões, Daniel Bragança and Geny Catamo (used as substitutes) . Fresneda and Mauro Couto, who remain with Sporting, did not leave the bench, in a game where Gyökeres represented the Portuguese team.

Furthermore, Sporting have one more draw and one defeat in the 2018/19 Europa League group stage and one draw and one defeat in the 1969/70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.