This Wednesday evening, English club Arsenal hosts their Portuguese counterpart Sporting CP in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium in London. This encounter is crucial for determining which team advances to the semi-final. Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory in the away leg, giving them a relative advantage, but they are aware the task is not yet complete. The match is scheduled for this Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Kick-off times are 23:00 UAE time, 21:00 Egypt time, and 22:00 Saudi Arabia time, at the Emirates Stadium in London. The game will be broadcast in the Arab region by the beIN Sports network, the exclusive rights holder for Champions League matches, specifically on channel beIN Sports HD 2. A live stream is also available via the beIN Sports «TOD» app on smartphones and other devices. Arsenal has a strong record against Portuguese clubs, with only one defeat in their last 12 European matches (6 wins, 5 draws). At home, they have not lost to Portuguese teams in their last 8 encounters (6 wins, 2 draws). German star Kai Havertz is one of Arsenal's key offensive weapons recently, scoring in 6 of his last 8 Champions League matches and finding the net against Sporting in both of their most recent meetings. Head-to-head history favors the English side: in 8 previous meetings, Arsenal won 4, Sporting won only 1, and 3 ended in a draw. In one previous European encounter, Arsenal won 5-1. The only previous playoff encounter ended with Sporting advancing on penalties in the 2022/23 Europa League. Arsenal faces several injury concerns: Martin Ødegaard (doubtful), Bukayo Saka (uncertain), Jules Koundé (not fully fit), Ricardo Calafiori (under assessment), and Mikel Merino is ruled out for the season. Sporting CP is also missing several key players: Luís Jorge, Manuel Ugarte, Paulo Dybala, and Fotis Ioannidis. However, the return of some midfielders is expected to bolster their defensive balance. Expected Arsenal lineup: Goalkeeper — Raya; Defense — White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Midfield — Zabimendi, Declan Rice; Attack — Mudryk, Havertz, Saka, Jorginho. Expected Sporting CP lineup: Goalkeeper — Rui Silva; Defense — Frizell, Diomande, Inácio, Araújo; Midfield — Silva, Hollmann; Attack — Katamo, Gonalves, Trincão, Suárez.
