Sporting CP and Arsenal are set to clash in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, April 7. The highly anticipated fixture takes place at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon. For fans tuning in across Canada, the match will be broadcast live on DAZN Canada and fuboTV Canada. Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CET, which means a mid-afternoon start at 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) and 12:00 PM Pacific Time (PT) for Canadian viewers.
Arsenal arrives in Lisbon in scintillating form. The Premier League side remains entirely unbeaten in this season’s Champions League campaign, securing nine wins out of ten matches. Mikel Arteta’s squad boasts a formidable defensive record, having conceded just four goals while scoring 27, keeping six clean sheets along the way. History also heavily favors the Gunners. They remain unbeaten in their five previous European fixtures against Sporting, claiming two wins and three draws. This impressive run includes a commanding 5-1 victory at this exact venue in Lisbon just last season.
Adding a massive layer of intrigue to this quarter-final tie is Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres. The prolific forward returns to face his former club after an incredible spell in Portugal, where he netted an astonishing 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting before his blockbuster move to North London in 2025. His intimate knowledge of the Estádio José Alvalade atmosphere could prove crucial for the visitors.
On the other side of the pitch, Sporting CP is making only their second-ever appearance in the European Cup quarter-finals. They booked their ticket with a sensational 5-0 extra-time comeback against Bodø/Glimt in the round of 16. Their overall campaign has been slightly more turbulent, consisting of six victories, one draw, and three defeats, with 22 goals scored and 14 conceded.
Crucially for the Portuguese giants, their home form has been absolutely imperious. Sporting has won all five of their home Champions League fixtures this season, smashing in 16 goals while conceding a mere three in front of their passionate supporters. Furthermore, the Lisbon club will confidently recall their historic triumph over Arsenal, having eliminated the Gunners on penalties during the 2022/23 Europa League round of 16.
Looking at the Bet365 betting markets, bookmakers heavily favor the English side to establish an early advantage. An Arsenal victory in this opening leg is priced at 1.72, while a Sporting home win stands at a distant 4.75, and the draw sits at 3.90. For overall qualification to the semi-finals, Arsenal are massive favorites at 1.14 compared to Sporting’s 5.50. Finally, in the outright Champions League winner market, Arsenal stands out as a strong contender at 3.50, while Sporting CP remains the clear tournament outsider at 51.00.
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Author:
Lucas Portela
Owner, BoldGambler • Avanhandava/SP
Oddsmaker, affiliate and content creator in the iGaming industry.