With Bukayo Saka out of the squad, Arsenal will be visiting Sporting CP for the first leg of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Sporting CP and Arsenal meet at Estadio do Dragao for the first leg of their 2025-26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie. With so much at stake for both sides, one of the biggest questions heading into the match is the availability of Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.
Saka will not be available for the first leg against Sporting in Lisbon. Head coach Mikel Arteta confirmed at Monday’s press conference that the English winger did not travel with the squad, ruling him out entirely, including any possibility of a substitute appearance.
When asked about the fitness of both Saka and Jurrien Timber, Arteta was straightforward. “They haven’t travelled in yet. Let’s see, hopefully they’re going to be ready for the weekend, if everything goes well,” the Spanish coach said, with his eyes on getting both players back in time for Arsenal‘s Premier League clash against Bournemouth next Saturday.
On a more positive note, Arteta confirmed that Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard have all recovered from the injuries that kept them out of the March international break. “That’s a massive boost because in recent days we’ve lost so many important players and that’s something that we need to change immediately,” he said.
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal.
A thrilling Lisbon clash awaits a shorthanded Arsenal
Arsenal booked their quarterfinal spot by beating Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 on aggregate, while Sporting CP pulled off a dramatic comeback against Bodo/Glimt, winning 5-3 on aggregate with all five of their goals coming in a stunning second leg in Lisbon. While the Gunners enter as the clear favorites in the tie, the Leões can sense vulnerability in an English side that has hit a rough patch.
Despite conceding just five goals throughout the entire Champions League campaign, Arsenal arrive in Lisbon on the back of two painful setbacks. A 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final was followed by a shock FA Cup elimination at the hands of second-tier Southampton, two significant blows for a side that had been dreaming of a quadruple not long ago.
Projected lineups for Sporting CP and Arsenal
Sporting CP’s projected lineup (4-2-3-1): Rui Silva; Ivan Fresneda, Ousmane Diomande, Goncalo Inacio, Maximiliano Araujo; Zeno Debast, Hidemasa Morita; Geny Catamo, Francisco Trincao, Pedro Goncalves; Luis Javier Suarez.Head coach: Rui Borges.
Arsenal’s projected lineup (4-2-3-1): David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Ricardo Calafiori; Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi; Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli; Viktor Gyokeres.Head coach: Mikel Arteta.