Kai Havertz's dramatic injury-time winner sealed a vital 1-0 victory for Arsenal against Sporting CP in a hard-fought UEFA Champions League encounter.
Arsenal extended their perfect Champions League record on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, overcoming a resilient Sporting side at the Estádio José Alvalade. The Gunners entered the knockout tie riding a five-game winning streak in the competition, while Sporting aimed to leverage their strong home support, despite being ranked lower in their group.
The first half saw both teams trade blows in a tactical battle, with Sporting CP showing early intent. Hidemasa Morita earned a yellow card for a tripping foul in the 31st minute, highlighting the intensity of the midfield skirmishes. Despite Sporting registering more shots, Arsenal's defense, led by William Saliba, held firm.
Sporting created several opportunities, forcing Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya into action multiple times. Raya made five crucial saves throughout the match, keeping the scores level with impressive interventions. The home side's Geny Catamo was particularly lively, registering three shots on target.
At halftime, the deadlock remained unbroken. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal needed to find more penetration and clinical finishing to break down Sporting's disciplined defense. Sporting, meanwhile, had to convert their chances to capitalize on their territorial advantage.
The second half brought more drama. Sporting made the first substitution in the 62nd minute, bringing on J. Simoes for Daniel Braganca. Just a minute later, Arsenal thought they had taken the lead when Martin Zubimendi found the net. However, VAR intervened, disallowing the goal for offside, keeping the contest finely balanced.
Mikel Arteta sought to inject fresh attacking impetus. In the 70th minute, Kai Havertz replaced Martin Odegaard, a tactical switch that proved pivotal. Further changes for Arsenal followed at 76 minutes: Noni Madueke and Leandro Trossard both departed the pitch, with Gabriel Martinelli among those introduced. Sporting countered with their own substitution in the 79th minute, as Pedro Gonçalves made way for R. Nel.
As the match edged towards stoppage time, Arsenal found their decisive breakthrough. In the 90+1 minute, Gabriel Martinelli, fresh off the bench, delivered a precise assist. Kai Havertz, who had also entered as a substitute, fired home from close range. His clinical finish secured a dramatic away win for the Gunners, breaking Sporting hearts.
The statistics painted a picture of a tight affair. Both teams posted nearly identical Expected Goals (xG), with Sporting on 0.77 and Arsenal on 0.78, indicating a match decided by fine margins. Sporting had more total shots (10 to Arsenal's 7) and shots on target (5 to 4), but couldn't beat Raya.
Arsenal maintained 57% ball possession, completing 91% of their passes, showcasing their control despite fewer clear-cut chances. This narrow victory extends Arsenal's impressive European campaign. Sporting CP now face a significant challenge in the return leg, needing to overturn a one-goal deficit against a formidable Arsenal side.
