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November 24 2024, 21:30 · Alex Lawes

Sporting CP vs Arsenal Preview: Team News & Prediction

Sporting CP vs Arsenal Preview: Team News & Prediction
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It is the first European game of the post-Ruben Amorim era as they welcome an Arsenal side that will be looking to right a wrong of their 2022/23 UEFA Europa League campaign.

Kick-off date/time: Tuesday 26th November, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Cannot be televised

How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Sporting CP Preview: Looking for continuity

Ruben Amorim oversaw Sporting’s most recent UEFA Champions League outing as they hammered Manchester City by four goals to one but he has since departed for Manchester United and been replaced by former B team coach Joao Pereira.

Joao Pereira’s first game in charge saw Sporting annihilate Amarante by six goals to nil in the first round of the Taca de Portugal. They sit at the top-of-the-table in the Portuguese Primeira Liga with 11 wins from 11, scoring 39 goals in the process. 

Arsenal Preview: Gunning for more

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal went into the November international break on the back of just two victories in seven matches across all competitions but their injury-hit side enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium at the weekend.

They have started the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League league phase with two victories, a draw and a defeat with their most recent outing on the continent a 1-0 loss to Italian champions Internazionale at San Siro earlier this month. 

Sporting CP Team News: Not changing too much

The appointment of B team coach Joao Pereira is to try and stick as close to what Ruben Amorim built as possible. That will involve a 3-4-2-1 system but Sporting will have to deal without Nuno Santos as well as Pedro Goncalves. 

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Israel; Debast, Diomande, Reis; Quenda, Morita, Hjulmand, Araujo; Trincao, Edwards; Gyokeres

Unavailable: Santos (Injured), Goncalves (Injured)

Questionable: 

Key Stats

  • Sporting CP are unbeaten in their last six UEFA competition matches against English teams (W1 D4).
  • Sporting CP have lost only one of their last 12 UEFA competition matches (W6 D5).
  • Sporting CP have lost only one of their last ten UEFA competition matches at home (W4 D5).
  • Sporting CP have won their last four UEFA competition group/league phase matches at home.
  • Sporting CP are unbeaten in their last four UEFA Champions League matches (W3 D1). A win of draw would see them equal their best unbeaten run in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history (all rounds). They played five successive matches without defeat from July 2009 to September 2014, all of which were draws.
  • Sporting CP have only failed to score in one of their last 22 UEFA competition matches.
  • Viktor Gyökeres has scored five goals in his first four UEFA Champions League appearances. Only Erling Haaland and Sébastien Haller (both seven) scored more in their first four appearances *five other players also scored five in their first four appearances.
  • Arsenal have lost only one of their last ten UEFA competition matches against Portuguese teams (W4 D5).
  • Arsenal have won only one of their previous nine UEFA competition matches away from home against Portuguese teams (D4 L4). That was a 1-0 victory against Sporting in the 2018/19 Europa League group stage.
  • Arsenal have won only one of their last seven away matches in all competitions (D3 L3).
  • Arsenal are without a win in their last five UEFA Champions League matches away from home (D2 L3).
  • Arsenal have not scored a goal in their last four UEFA Champions League matches away from home.
  • Gabriel Jesus needs one goal to reach the landmark of 25 goals scored in the UEFA Champions League proper.

Arsenal Team News: Importance of Odegaard

The lack of creativity sparked by Martin Odegaard’s absence has hopefully been put to rest from an Arsenal point of view but they do have defensive injuries with Ben White recently joining Takehiro Tomiyasu on the sidelines. 

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Trossard

Unavailable: White (Injured), Tomiyasu (Injured)

Questionable: 

Sporting CP vs Arsenal Prediction

It is an unknown as to how things will go for Sporting without Ruben Amorim at the helm but the likelihood is that the Lisbon-based club remain entertaining to watch. The hosts still boast a potent side all over the pitch spearheaded by Sweden international Viktor Gyokeres. Arsenal looked a lot more efficient in attack at the weekend and Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori at full-back may unlock something else for the Gunners. A fun match for the neutral seems likely. 

Sporting CP vs Arsenal Tip: Both teams to score

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