Champions League – Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP, 1-0 on aggregate to advance to the semi-finals

In the second leg of the 2025/26 Champions League quarter-finals, Arsenal hosted Sporting Lisbon at Old Trafford. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, but Arsenal advanced to the semi-finals with a 1-0 aggregate victory.

Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon traded attacks in the first half, but their offensive threats were few and far between: In the 18th minute, Willian Saliba's long pass was intercepted, and Trincão broke into the box from the right and fired a shot that went just wide. In the 29th minute, Martin Zubimendy broke into the box and delivered a cross, but Victor Dzekelreš's follow-up shot was blocked. In the 30th minute, Declan Rice's corner from the left was headed towards goal by Zubimendy at the far post, but Rui Silva made the save. In the 31st minute, Trincão played a through ball from the edge of the box, but Potter's shot went wildly over the bar.

In the 43rd minute, Maximiliano Araujo delivered a long cross from the left side of the penalty area, but Geni Catamo's volley struck the left post. Sporting Lisbon missed this golden opportunity to close the gap and went into halftime goalless.

The second half began with both sides switching ends. In the 47th minute, Porte delivered a through ball from the attacking third, and Araujo's powerful shot from the left side of the penalty area went just wide. In the 56th minute, Eberrejci Eze held off his opponent inside the penalty area and passed the ball back, but Gabriel Martinelli's shot went over the crossbar. In the 57th minute, Morten Jullmann's clearance error resulted in an assist, and Noni Madoueke seized the opportunity to cut inside and shoot, but his effort went just wide.

In the 67th minute, Araujo unleashed a long-range shot from outside the penalty area, which was saved by David Raya. In the 84th minute, Max Doman took a corner kick from the right, and Leandro Trossard's header at the far post was denied by the post. In the 85th minute, Zubimendi delivered a lobbed pass from the attacking third, and Gabriel Jesus's shot from a tight angle on the right wing only hit the side netting.

Neither side managed to score again. The final score was 0-0, but Arsenal eliminated Sporting Lisbon thanks to Kai Havertz's goal in the first leg.

Image source: Internet/Arsenal official website