Sporting Lisbon welcome Arsenal to Estadio Jose Alvalade in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie in 2022-23 UEFA Europa League.
Sporting thrashed Midtjylland in the Knockout Play-Off to advance to this stage, whilst Arsenal received a bye due to winning their group in the Group Stage.
Team News
Manuel Ugarte is suspended for Sporting Lisbon after he picked up his third booking in all UEFA competitions this season, during their second leg win over Midtjylland.
Daniel Braganca (cruciate ligament) remains absent.
Arsenal could be without Leandro Trossard after he suffered a knock during their comeback Premier League win at home to Bournemouth last weekend.
Eddie Nketiah (knock) and Jorginho (illness) are doubts but Gabriel Jesus and Mohammed Elneny (both knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Sporting Lisbon host Arsenal at Estadio Jose Alvalade in a 6:45pm CET (5:45pm UK Time) on Thursday 9 March, live on BT Sport in UK.
Stat Attack
- Sporting are yet to beat Arsenal in all UEFA competitions (D2, L2).
- Arsenal are unbeaten in two previous visits to Sporting in all competitions (W1, D1).
- Sporting Lisbon failed to score against Arsenal in four previous meetings across all UEFA competitions.
- Sporting have won just one of four matches at home in all UEFA competitions this season (W1, D1, L2).
- Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have won three of their last four Europa League matches by 1-0 result, except for a 2-0 defeat at PSV Eindhoven in late October 2022.
Prediction
Having comfortably beaten Midtjylland in the second leg of their knockout play-off, Sporting can come into this round full of confidence and will be boosted by how well they performed against Arsenal’s neighbours – Tottenham earlier this season in the Champions League.
Arsenal meanwhile largely breezed through their group to qualify automatically for this stage but Arteta will want a response from his Gunners, after they delivered a sloppy defensive performance against Bournemouth last weekend which was saved by a clinical second-half fightback.
This fixture’s form also favours the North London club who are yet to lose to Sporting in all UEFA competitions, so I do expect them to get another solid result but Sporting are a tough team to quieten which makes a clean sheet a tricky task.
Prediction: Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Arsenal
Result: Sporting Lisbon 2-2 Arsenal
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