Viktor Gyokeres returns to his former club as his new employers, Arsenal, chase the double for the 2025/26 season
Arsenal have suffered back-to-back cup defeats in the Carabao Cup final and FA Cup quarterfinal, and they have seen their quadruple dreams slump to a double. The Gunners are now clinging onto the nine-point lead they have in the Premier League while fighting for a spot in the UEFA Champions League semis.
🔵 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝘿𝘼𝙔 🔘
🆚 Sporting CP
🕗 8pm (UK)
🏆 Champions League
🏟️ Estádio José Alvalade pic.twitter.com/iydojAE7Id— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 7, 2026
To keep the double hope from turning into a single, Arsenal will face Viktor Gyokeres’ former side, Sporting Lisbon, in the UEFA Champions League semis. Gyokeres moved to Arsenal from Sporting and he must now continue his fine form to help his team overcome this slump and keep their hopes of silverware alive.
The odds are in Arsenal’s favor as they are the only unbeaten team in the Champions League this season. They will use that record as a springboard for their confidence as they face Sporting who have a formidable record of their own.
The Portuguese giants entered the quarterfinals after pulling off a stunning comeback against Bodo/Glimt. Sporting came back from a 3-0 first-leg deficit to win 5-3 on aggregate, scoring five goals in the second leg.
Sporting CP boast a 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 home record in the Champions League this season ✅
Will Arsenal be the ones to break it? 💭 pic.twitter.com/xRWya1dV7h
— LiveScore (@livescore) April 6, 2026
They are also unbeaten at home this season, and Arsenal will be wary of that.
Team News
Arsenal’s defeat to Southampton also brought fresh concerns, as center-back Gabriel Magalhaes was forced off, but the Brazilian has been passed fit for Tuesday’s game. Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard have also been given the green light to play, but Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber are not ready. Hincapie is still out and so is Saka.
Sporting will remain without Fotis Ioannidis, Geovany Quenda and Nuno Santos, while Luis Guilherme is also a doubt due to an ankle problem, and Ivan Fresneda, who missed the previous outing through illness, is touch-and-go for this one.
Sporting vs Arsenal Predicted XI
Sporting Lisbon Predicted XI
Silva; Vagiannidis, Diomande, Inacio, Mangas; Braganca, Morita; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez
Arsenal Predicted XI
Raya; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Martinelli, Gyokeres, Madueke
