Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal: a huge first-leg quarter-final at the José Alvalade 
The Champions League is back in business on Tuesday night. The José Alvalade is staging a major European clash. Sporting take on Arsenal. The home side are on a ridiculous winning streak. The London club, meanwhile, have hit a patch of turbulence they’d rather not be talking about. The weight of Europe hangs heavy over this first leg.
Sporting’s brick wall under Rui Borges 
Sporting are now on a run of 17 straight home wins. Their latest victory, a 4-2 defeat of Santa Clara, kept them second in Portugal’s top flight. Their last-16 tie turned heads too, with a historic comeback and a 5-0 demolition of Bodo/Glimt. The Portuguese attack has been flying for weeks. The hosts have scored at least four goals in each of their last three competitive matches.
Arsenal need a response 
Mikel Arteta has watched his side lose momentum. The visitors are coming off back-to-back domestic defeats. Manchester City and Southampton have knocked the Londoners out of the cups in brutal fashion. In Europe, though, Arsenal’s record is still spotless. They’ve not lost in the Champions League this season. Viktor Gyokeres is back facing his old crowd. Arsenal hammered Sporting 5-1 in the last meeting between the two sides.
Probable line-ups
Sporting CP : Silva ; Vagiannidis, Diomande, Inacio, Mangas ; Braganca, Morita ; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves ; Suarez
Arsenal : Raya ; Timber, Mosquera, Saliba, Calafiori ; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard ; Martinelli, Gyokeres, Saka
Football prediction Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal
Draw or Sporting win
The home attack will look to rip into an Arsenal side short on confidence. That ferocious Jose Alvalade home run should have the Portuguese side fizzing from the first whistle.
The away side have enough tactical know-how to keep this respectable. Gyokeres’ return will keep the Portuguese centre-backs under constant pressure.
Home advantage and current form should at least deliver a positive result for the hosts.
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