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Kai Havertz scored the winner in the 91st minute as Arsenal won for the first time in three matches At a glance Maxi Araujo hits crossbar for Sporting in first half Noni Madueke also hits bar direct from corner for Arsenal Martin Zubimendi has goal ruled out for offside in second half Kai Havertz scores stoppage-time winner for visitors PLAYER RATINGS Kai Havertz scored a stoppage-time winner as Arsenal beat Sporting 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon. The second-half substitute poked the ball past Rui Silva late on to give the Premier League leaders a narrow advantage going into next week's second leg at Emirates Stadium. The pressure was on Arsenal coming into this match after they suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season. And that tension was nearly increased further when Sporting left-back Maxi Araujo crashed a shot against the Arsenal crossbar early on after a superb through ball from Ousmane Diomande. The Gunners had plenty of possession in the first half but could not translate that into clear-cut chances. The closest they came to scoring was when Noni Madueke hit the crossbar direct from a corner. Sporting continually threatened with fast counter-attacks and almost punished the Gunners when Araujo made another burst forward and cut the ball back to Francisco Trincao, who pulled his shot wide. Martin Zubimendi thought he had given Arsenal a second-half lead when he curled in from the edge of the box, but the strike was ruled out as former Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres was offside in the build-up. The hosts piled on the pressure in the latter stages and David Raya made three good saves to keep the scores level, before Havertz snatched the win for the Gunners. The victory is Arsenal's first in three matches and gives Mikel Arteta's side a boost as they return to Premier League action against Bournemouth at the weekend. This video can not be played Arsenal 'had a point to prove' after 'difficult period' - Arteta This win was not a vintage Arsenal performance but beating Sporting could prove to be a pivotal moment in the Gunners' season. Arsenal had been criticised after two successive defeats and looked like they would be frustrated again before Havertz scored the dramatic winner. Arteta's side struggled to create chances despite having more of the ball throughout - and currently do not have a forward player in top form as they look to win a major trophy for the first time in six years. But by producing a resilient display in Lisbon against a quality Sporting side and grabbing the victory, Arsenal's players have received a welcome boost of confidence heading into the business end of the season. It would have been a very nervy atmosphere at the Emirates on Saturday against Bournemouth if the Gunners returned to league action after three winless fixtures. But now they may be able to play with more freedom after shaking off the painful cup losses to Manchester City and Southampton. The only negative for Arteta on Tuesday was that Martin Odegaard had to come off with a knock - his captain's campaign has been blighted by fitness problems. Sporting had won their past 17 home matches and played like a side that was filled with confidence. This was their first loss at home in the Champions League this season. Araujo was a constant threat to the Gunners' backline with his bursting runs from left-back and the hosts' gameplan of quick counter-attacks nearly paid off. Centre-back Diomande produced an impressive display before Arsenal's winning goal and again showed why he has been linked with a number of English clubs. He battled well with former team-mate Gyokeres and showed his quality on the ball to release Araujo, for his effort which struck the bar, with an outside-of-the-foot pass from deep in his own half. Sporting will feel hard done by to lose the match late on, but the Portuguese champions will believe they are still in the tie with only a one-goal deficit to overturn. Arsenal return to Premier League action and host Bournemouth on Saturday (12: 30 BST). Sporting also play on Saturday when they travel to Estrela Amadora (20: 30 BST). After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Latest Champions League table Champions League scores & fixtures Follow the latest Champions League news Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22: 00 on Wednesday on BBC i Player and the BBC Sport website and app. There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22: 40 to 00: 00. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Manager: Rui Borges Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Mikel Arteta Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Rui Borges Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Mikel Arteta Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal High chance of scoring Medium chance of scoring Low chance of scoring Dominant period Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute. Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute. Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP Sporting Sporting CP Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Sporting Sporting CP UEFA Champions League All competitions All competitions All competitions Sporting CP have never beaten Arsenal in seven attempts (D4 L3), including a 5-1 home loss in last season’s UEFA Champions League. However, they did eliminate Arsenal from the 2022-23 UEFA Europa League via penalty shootout. Arsenal have never won away against Portuguese opposition in the knockout stages of a major European competition before (D4 L2), most recently a 1-0 loss at FC Porto in the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League last 16. This is just Sporting CP’s second appearance in the UEFA European Cup/Champions League quarter-final stage, previously being eliminated by Real Sociedad in 1982-83. Arsenal have been eliminated from five of their eight UEFA Champions League quarter-final ties. However, they beat Real Madrid at this stage last season and are looking to reach the semi-finals in consecutive campaigns for the first time. Sporting CP have won all five of their home games in the UEFA Champions League this season, with this the longest home winning streak by a Portuguese side in the competition since FC Porto in December 1999 (6). Arsenal have the lowest per game averages in the UEFA Champions League this season for goals conceded (0. 5), x G against (0. 75) and shots on target faced (2. 7), while they have also trailed for the fewest minutes of any team in this edition (42: 48, all in their round of 16 first leg v Bayer Leverkusen). Luis Suárez has scored five goals for Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League this season, and could equal the club record for most goals in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign, set by Viktor Gyökeres in 2024-25 (6). Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres scored six goals in eight appearances for Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League last season. He could become the first player to score both for and against the Portuguese side in the competition. Sporting CP’s Gonçalo Inácio made 41 line-breaking passes across both games against Bodø/Glimt in the previous round (last 16); the most by any player in a knockout stage tie in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League so far. Based on the x G of shots on target faced (excl. own goals), Arsenal’s David Raya has prevented more goals than any other goalkeeper in the UEFA Champions League since the start of last season (+7. 4 – 12 conceded from 19. 4 x G on target). Attempt missed. Geny Catamo (Sporting Lisbon) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Pote. Substitution, Arsenal. Max Dowman replaces Noni Madueke. Substitution, Arsenal. Gabriel Martinelli replaces Leandro Trossard because of an injury. Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisbon). Foul by Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal). Maxi Araújo (Sporting Lisbon) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Substitution, Arsenal. Kai Havertz replaces Martin Ødegaard because of an injury. Delay in match because of an injury Pote (Sporting Lisbon). Attempt saved. Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon). Assisted by Martín Zubimendi. Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Luis Suárez (Sporting Lisbon). VAR Decision: No Goal Sporting Lisbon 0-0 Arsenal. GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review. Offside, Arsenal. Viktor Gyökeres is caught offside. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Substitution, Sporting Lisbon. Daniel Bragança replaces João Simões. Delay in match because of an injury Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal). Foul by Hidemasa Morita (Sporting Lisbon). Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.