Despite their short initial lead, the Gunners came up against an organized and threatening Leões during a duel marked by a lack of offensive realism, ultimately settling for a parity score to seal their ticket for the last four.
Arsenal hosted Sporting at the Emirates in the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League, with a slight advantage gained in the first leg (1-0). During the first period, however, the Gunners showed a feverish and uninspired face. Despite a decent start and a few situations, like a long shot from Gyökeres or a header off target from Zubimendi, they never really worried Rui Silva. The lack of technical precision and the multiplication of blocked strikes prevented the Londoners from taking cover.
For its part, the Lisbon club remained solid while showing itself to be dangerous in sequences, taking advantage of opposing errors. Gonçalves and Trincão regularly sought to exploit poor restarts, while Catamo came close to opening the scoring with a rebound that crashed against the post. Sporting thus knew how to maintain the pressure and contain the Gunners who were too imprecise in the final movements.
Sporting bends without breaking
Returning from the locker room, the locals tried to pick up the pace but continued to miss the mark, despite more intense activity. The chances multiplied without success, like Martinelli’s volley, Havertz’s attempts or even the post found by Trossard, while Sporting suffered especially in the last quarter of an hour.
In added time, the tension rose another notch in London. Rui Silva tried his hand at the long free kick. Earlier at the end of the match, Quenda missed his header, while the English finished stronger without managing to make the difference.
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