The first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals took place, with Arsenal, playing away, defeating Sporting CP 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Kai Havertz.

Six minutes into the match, Diomande launched a long pass from the center circle, Araujo controlled the ball and fired a shot from inside the box, but the ball struck the post. In the 8th minute, Sporting CP's free kick was deflected, and Araujo's subsequent long-range shot went over the bar. In the 10th minute, Fresneda passed the ball to Catamo, whose low shot was caught by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

In the 15th minute, Arsenal won a corner kick, but Maduk's kick hit the post, and Odegaard's follow-up shot went wide. In the 30th minute, Trossard was tackled by Sporting Lisbon midfielder Hidemasa Morita while attempting a breakthrough, and the referee showed Morita a yellow card.

In the 39th minute, Diomande received a pass back from Trincão outside the penalty area and unleashed a long-range shot, but the ball went wide of the goal. In the 43rd minute, Arsenal attempted a counter-attack, with Ødegaard receiving a header from Ben White and firing a long-range shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball was caught by Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Silva.

In the 45th minute, Rice passed the ball to Trossard, whose shot was blocked.

In the 49th minute of the second half, Ødegaard passed the ball diagonally, and Trossard followed up with a long-range shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball went wide of the post. In the 52nd minute, Arsenal had a free kick opportunity, and Ødegaard took the shot directly, but the ball was saved by Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Silva.

In the 63rd minute, Dzekeresh passed the ball to Martin Zuwemendi, who received a back pass from Ben White at the edge of the penalty area and fired a long-range shot into the net. However, the referee ruled that Dzekeresh was offside, and the goal was disallowed. In the 68th minute, Martin Zuwemendi made a diagonal pass to Dzekeresh, who controlled the ball and fired a shot after dealing with the defense, but the ball was intercepted by Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Silva.

In the 71st minute, Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard suffered an injury and was subsequently replaced by Kai Havertz. In the 78th minute, Pedro Gonçalves chipped a pass into the penalty area, Catamo controlled the ball, dribbled past a defender, and fired a shot, but the ball went wide of the post. In the 83rd minute, Luis Suarez passed the ball back from the penalty area, Catamo headed it towards goal, but Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya immediately dived to block the shot.

In the 87th minute, Sporting CP continued their attack. Catamo received the ball and entered the penalty area, but his low shot was blocked by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. Luis Suarez's close-range follow-up shot was also blocked.

In stoppage time of the second half, Martinelli chipped a pass into the penalty area, where Havertz met it and fired a low shot into the net, giving Arsenal a 1-0 lead.

Arsenal ultimately defeated Sporting CP 1-0 away from home.

Image source: Internet