For the second consecutive campaign, for the fourth time in its history, Arsenal reaches the semifinals of the top continental competition. Without brilliance, but with vigor, at a moment in the season when it shows signs of blockage, lacking differential midfielders going forward like Odegaard or Merino. That Arsenal, which during long stretches of the season looked exuberant, now seems like a tired team. Against Sporting Lisbon, a team that had barely been seen at this stage of the competition since 1983, they let themselves go until they got a couple of scares. Then they wanted to impose themselves, but without arguments. And they always felt the threat of their rival, a team as meritorious as limited that arrived alive until the crucial minutes amid the concern of the stands, which celebrated the qualification with a mix of jubilation and relief to face Atlético in the semifinals. The Premier leader arrives just in time for that match.
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Arsenal qualified, making Havertz’s goal in Lisbon count. Along the way, they faced some trouble, like the one caused by fullback Quaresma at the end of the first half with a shot that ended up hitting one of the posts of David Raya’s goal. Sporting showed themselves, who have never reached a Champions League semifinal. Not that they deserved it this time either, combative but without the means to hurt their rival, who grew as the minutes passed and ended up defending the result with the ball at their feet.
🚨 Arsenal will be our rival in the Champions League semifinals! pic.twitter.com/JlkJRe76PF
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— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) April 15, 2026
Everything happened in a dull match, also without rhythm, that started and went on lazily because Arsenal, overwhelming in many stretches of the season, barely found paths to Rui Silva’s goal and limited themselves to reaching the goal. Arsenal closed up in a match with hardly any chances in which Sporting can argue that in the last action of the match they could have taken the game to extra time on Simoes’ feet.
Before that, there was no light. Arsenal only shot on target once, lacking offensive production, cautious since Mikel Arteta drew a defense with two makeshift center-backs as fullbacks on the board. These are times of caution for the Londoners, who faced a disadvantaged rival who never wanted to take risks. And they also couldn’t find a way to impose themselves, beyond a Trossard attempt that hit the post in the final stretch of the match, avoiding the uncertainties of a tight ending.
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