Arsenal now know, if they progress, they will face in the last eight of the Champions League after Sporting CP conducted a memorable comeback win against Bodo/Glimt
If Arsenal progress, they will face Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-final(Image: AFP or licensors)
Arsenal’s route to the Champions League final has become much clearer, with Sporting CP confirmed to be their opponents in the quarter-final if they overcome Bayer Leverkusen. The Gunners are currently level with the German side ahead of tonight’s second-leg.
Mikel Arteta’s men rescued a first leg draw last week thanks to Kai Havertz’s penalty against his former team. Robert Andrich put the Bundesliga outfit ahead just after half-time before Havertz came off the bench to leave all to play for this evening.
The draw was the first game this season that Arsenal failed to win in Europe’s prestigious competition. They topped the league phase in perfect fashion, winning all eight games, scoring 23 and conceding just four.
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This year, the route to the final at the end of May has already been set. Arteta’s men sit on the different side to the bracket of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
On their side of the bracket is Newcastle, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sporting CP. It’s all to play for in Spain between Barcelona and Newcastle following a 1-1 draw in the first-leg, while Atletico travel to north London to take on Tottenham with a 5-2 lead.
In the quarter-final, Arsenal will now meet Sporting after their incredible comeback in the second-leg on Tuesday night. Bodo/Glimt took a 3-0 lead to Portugal after another emphatic home display in the Champions League, but crashed out the tournament after losing 5-0 in Portugal.
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Viktor Gyokeres’ old club Sporting won after extra-time thanks to goals from Goncalo Inacio, Pote, Luis Suarez, Maxi Araujo and Rafael Nel.
Should Arsenal progress, the two-legged tie with Sporting would take place across April 7/8 and 14/15.
In 2023, the Portuguese giants knocked Arsenal out of the Europa League last 16 on penalties after two draws.
The other quarter-final will see Athletic Madrid, barring a dramatic Spurs comeback, take on the winners of Barcelona and Newcastle. Arteta’s side will take on the winner of that tie in the semi-final before facing the winner of the other side of the bracket.
In the final, PSG are incredibly likely to qualify to the quarter-final after scoring two quickfire goals against Chelsea to go 7-2 up on aggregate.
Real Madrid are set to join them and they will take on the winners of Bayern Munich and Atalanta, though the former are 6-1 up.
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Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League round of 16 where they face Bayer Leverkusen on March 17. Fans can watch the game on Prime Video’s TNT Sports channel.
