Arsenal reach Champions League semifinals in back-to-back seasons after 0-0 draw vs Sporting CP

That’s the end of our live blog, with Arsenal going through to the UCL semifinals after a 0-0 draw against Sporting CP at home. See you next time!

Arsenal secure their place in the Champions League semifinals following a 0-0 draw at home against Sporting CP.

Bragança missed the final opportunity of the match, dragging a crossed shot just inches wide of Raya’s first post.

Four minutes of stoppage time have been added.

Seeking a late equalizer, coach Borges has introduced Giorgos Vagiannidis and Rafael Nel in place of Eduardo Quaresma and Francisco Trincão.

Following a strong solo play, Gabriel Jesus attempted a shot from a narrow angle that drifted well wide of the target.

Dowman delivered a corner to the far post to find an unmarked Trossard, whose header struck the woodwork to deny Arsenal the opening goal.

Maxi Araújo has received the first yellow card of the match following a poorly timed challenge on Max Dowman.

Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard enter the match, replacing Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli.

Hidesama Morita is replaced by Simoes in the away side.

Geovany Quenda and Pedro Braganca enter the field replacing Geny Catamo and Pedro Goncalves.

With Arsenal sitting deep, Catamo controlled the ball and unleashed a powerful strike that got blocked by Mosquera.

Forced off due to injury, Noni Madueke is replaced by Max Dowman.

Noni Madueke is receiving medical treatment after colliding with Morita; he remains on the turf clutching his left knee in visible distress.

Following a cross from Madueke, Martinelli pounced on a rebound near the edge of the box and unleashed a half-volley that sailed over the crossbar.

Arsenal are pressing much higher than in the first half, forcing Sporting into several quick turnovers in their own half.

Sporting  moved the ball from right to left, with Araujo unleashing a shot that went inches wide the far post.

Referee Francois Letexier blows the whistle, and the second half is underway!

Arsenal and Sporting CP are 0-0 at the Emirates Stadium after the first 45 minutes.

One minutes of stoppage time has been added to the first half.

Following a smooth collective move, Araujo delivered a cross to the back post for Catamo, who got goal-side of Hincapie and unleashed a shot that rattled the woodwork.

Zubimendi drove down the left wing and sent in a dangerous cross that was intercepted just in time by Rui Silva.

Arsenal recovered the ball following a poor Sporting throw-in, but both Gyokeres and Martinelli saw their resulting efforts blocked before they could test the keeper.

Following a sharp through ball from Eze, Zubimendi’s initial effort fell to Gyokeres, whose follow-up shot was crucially blocked by Gonçalo Inacio.

After committing successive fouls on Madueke and Zubimendi, Pedro Gonçalves has received a stern warning from the referee.

Following a misplaced pass from William Saliba, Francisco Trincao received the ball on the right wing and cut inside. He attempted a trademark curling effort toward the far post, but the strike whistled just wide of David Raya’s goal.

Geny Catamo has gone down in the box, claiming Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie stepped on his foot. Play has paused while Catamo receives medical attention.

After the Gunners dominated possession in the opening minutes, Sporting are beginning to find their footing and push into the attacking third as they look to erase the aggregate deficit.

Protecting their aggregate lead, Arsenal are content to control possession in the early stages, patiently circulating the ball across the pitch as they look to settle into a rhythm.

Referee Francois Letexier blows his whistle, and the game between Arsenal and Sporting CP is underway.

Arsenal stands on the precipice of a historic milestone in the 2025-26 season. Should the Gunners secure a spot in the semifinals today, it would mark the first time in club history that they have reached the final four of the Champions League in back-to-back campaigns, having fallen just short against PSG last season.

On the other side of the pitch, Sporting CP is fighting to exorcise a long-standing demon for Portuguese soccer. No club from Portugal has reached the Champions League semifinals since Jose Mourinho famously led FC Porto to the title in 2004. For the Leoes, who are in their first quarterfinal since 1983, a win would end a 22-year drought for their nation on Europe’s biggest stage.

French official François Letexier has been appointed to oversee Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal between Arsenal and Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium. The 36-year-old brings a favorable history for the Gunners, who have won both matches he has previously officiated. Conversely, while Sporting remains unbeaten under Letexier’s whistle with a win and two draws, all three of those results occurred in Europa League action.

Match officials:

Referee: Francois Letexier
1st Assistant: Cyril Mugnier
2nd Assistant: Mehdi Rahmouni
Fourth Official: Stephanie Frappart
VAR: Bastian Dankert
VAR assistant: Bram Van Driessche

While Declan Rice has been cleared to play after sitting out Tuesday's training session, Arsenal will be shorthanded as they face the absences of stars Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Jurrien Timber.

Saka has been dropped from the squad entirely as he continues to struggle with a persistent Achilles issue. Meanwhile, Odegaard was unable to recover in time from a knee knock sustained in the first leg, an injury that forced his early exit in Lisbon and has now kept him off the team sheet for the return leg.

Coach Rui Borges has picked the starting players to look for the comeback at the Emirates Stadium (4-2-3-1): Rui Silva; Eduardo Quaresma, Ousmane Diomande, Goncalo Inacio, Maximiliano Araujo; Morten Hjulmand, Hidemasa Morita; Geny Catamo, Francisco Trincao, Pedro Goncalves; Luis Javier Suarez.

Coach Mikel Arteta has confirmed the eleven players to face Sporting CP (4-2-3-1): David Raya; Cristhian Mosquera, William Saliba, Gabriel, Piero Hincapie; Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice; Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli; Viktor Gyokeres.

The game between Arsenal and Sporting CP will kick off at 3 PM (ET).

You can watch the UEFA Champions League live on Paramount+ and ViX.

Welcome to our live blog for the second leg of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals between Arsenal and Sporting CP. Stay with us for key updates and live minute-by-minute coverage!