Arsenal – Sporting

Sporting will make the home team nervous.

Just a month ago, London's Arsenal, regarded as the favorite in all four competitions in which it had begun the season, was receiving rave reviews. However, exactly a month has passed since the Gunners' last victory in domestic competitions. Throughout that period, Mikel Arteta's side have been winning only in the Champions League. Such results have led to Arsenal's defeat in the English League Cup final, elimination from the FA Cup at the quarterfinal stage, and the loss of a solid lead in the Premier League. In the last case, the Gunners still have the advantage, sitting at the top, but the latest trends and Manchester City's strong results have intensified the title race in England. Sporting CP are the main pursuers of the league leaders in Portugal's national championship. The Lisbon-based players approach the return leg with a light heart and without the external pressure their opponents face. If Sporting exit the Champions League in the quarterfinals at the hands of its favorite, no one will dare throw a stone at Rui Borges and his players. In the first leg of this round of the continent's premier tournament, there wasn't much in the way of a spectacular game. The teams traded a couple of serious goal-scoring opportunities, but it basically ended in a goalless draw. Only in the 90+1st minute did Kai Havertz's goal strike for Arsenal. Arsenal's win didn't surprise anyone, but the narrow margin gives Sporting room to maneuver for the return leg. Bookmakers identified the hosts as favorites, offering odds of 1.46 on their victory. After the win in Portugal, Arsenal played a home Premier League match against Bournemouth. No one expected an easy victory for the Gunners, but the English side managed to lose and allow Manchester City to close the gap to within one win. Arsenal created for themselves an extra case of nerves that will surface in the match against Sporting. Rui Borges's team on Saturday casually earned a victory over Estrela in the Portuguese league. In the return leg, Sporting has nothing to lose; the worst-case scenario of a home defeat to Arsenal has already happened. The visitors have positive experience from Arsenal's progress to the 2023 Europa League play-offs, which they will try to apply on Wednesday. At least, the opponents will exchange goals.