The 2025/26 Champions League quarterfinals bring with them one of the tournament's most intriguing knockout matches — unbeaten Arsenal against Sporting CP, who came back from the dead. First leg on 7 April at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, and the return leg on 15 April at Emirates Stadium in London.
Numbers like these have never been seen in the history of the Champions League. Arsenal finished the league phase with 8 wins from 8 matches — no draws, no losses. 23 goals scored, only 4 conceded. 24 points out of a possible 24.
This is the first team ever in Champions League history to achieve 24 out of 24 points in the league phase. Not Real Madrid, not Barcelona, not Bayern Munich — Arsenal.
In the round of 16, the 'Gunners' faced German champions Bayer Leverkusen and progressed with honor: 1-1 in Germany and 2-0 in London, 3-1 on aggregate overall. Among the standouts: Bukayo Saka with 3 goals in the tournament and Gabriel Martinelli with 3 more goals. Declan Rice scored one of the two goals in the home win over Leverkusen.
Arsenal arrive at the quarterfinal as one of the most feared teams in Europe — an iron defense, a sharp attack, and a manager who knows exactly what he's doing.
If Arsenal is a story of consistency, Sporting CP is a story of a big heart. The Portuguese club hadn't been in the Champions League quarterfinal since 1982/83 — a wait of 43 years. The last time they reached a knockout stage at this level, in 2008/09, they conceded 1-12 on aggregate to Bayern Munich. This time the story is completely different.
The road to the quarterfinal? The most dramatic we've seen in the tournament. In the round of 16, Sporting stood at the edge of the abyss: a 0-3 loss to Norway's Bodø/Glimt in the first leg in Norway. Most teams would have accepted that the story was over. Sporting did not.
In the return match in Lisbon, in front of a roaring home stadium, Sporting pulled off one of the greatest turnarounds in Champions League history. Final result: 5-0 after extra time, 5-3 on aggregate.
Goals in the home match:
Sporting becameonly the fifth team in the entire history of the Champions League to overturn a 3-goal deficit. This isn't a miracle — it's character.
Throughout the tournament, Francisco Trincão scored a brace against Qarabağ and helped the team rise up in the league phase. He's one of the most dangerous cards Sporting have.
Arsenal arrive with the best defense in the tournament — 4 goals conceded in 8 group-stage matches. Saka and Martinelli give them two dangerous weapons on the wings, and Declan Rice in midfield supplies both physical energy and creative quality. A clear experience advantage.
The immense spirit shown in the comeback against Bodø/Glimt will not vanish. Sporting play in Lisbon in the first leg — with the crowd on their side and the stadium on their side. Pedro Gonçalves and Francisco Trincão can create chaos at any moment. They've proven they know how to score when it matters most.
| Category | Arsenal | Sporting CP |
|---|---|---|
| League phase | 8W 0D 0L — 24/24 points | Went through the playoff |
| Round of 16 | 3-1 vs Leverkusen | 5-3 on aggregate vs Bodø/Glimt |
| Goals scored | 23 in the league phase | 5 goals in the comeback match |
| Last quarterfinal | 2009/10 | 1982/83 — 43 years ago! |
| Stadium capacity | Emirates: 60,704 | José Alvalade: 50,095 |
First Leg: 7 April 2026, 22:00 Israel time
Venue: Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon (50,095 seats)
Second Leg: 15 April 2026, 22:00 Israel time
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London (60,704 seats)
The winner of the Sporting/Arsenal tie will meet the winner of the match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in the semifinal. The final will be held on 30 May 2026 at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.
Arsenal, Lisbon, Emirates — tickets for the quarterfinal matches are already available. TikTik offers verified tickets for Champions League matches — including the rarest locations. Don't wait too long, availability drops every day.
