Sporting CP 1 – 5 Arsenal – Match Report

We turned in considered one of our greatest away performances within the Champions League in latest reminiscence to safe a press release win in Lisbon.

In opposition to the reigning Portuguese champions – unbeaten all season and second within the Champions League league section going into the sport – we netted three with out reply in a dominant first half. Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz put us two to the nice earlier than Gabriel headed in from a nook on the stroke of half-time.

An early second-half objective from Goncalo Inacio gave the hosts temporary hope, however Bukayo Saka’s penalty and Leandro Trossard’s late objective from a parried Mikel Merino shot gave the scoreline gloss on a exceptional night time in Europe.

The travelling Arsenal supporters have been left to have fun our greatest away win within the competitors since beating Inter by the identical rating in 2003.

Martinelli’s magic

One other European away day, one other excitable dwelling ambiance to attempt to dampen early on, and we did simply that contained in the opening 10 minutes. We had began actually brightly, having our first try on objective within the first minute, however Riccardo Calafiori’s follow-up after Martinelli’s cross was half-cleared went harmlessly huge.

We continued to dictate the early play – Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka mixed effectively inside the realm however the hosts scrambled away the hazard.

Then got here the breakthrough. Jurrien Timber discovered house on the best, despatched in a low cross that requested questions that the Portuguese defence couldn’t reply, and Martinelli stole in to attain previous Franco Israel and internet our first away objective within the Champions League since Eddie Nketiah netted in opposition to Eindhoven in December final 12 months.

We have been good worth for the lead although. Sporting – with a 100 per cent home document this season had barely received into our half within the first ten minutes.

Explosive Gunners

It was little shock then once we doubled the lead halfway via the primary half. Once more the build-up got here down the best, this time Thomas Partey lifted a ball over the defence for Saka to scurry onto. He stabbed the ball via the legs of the advancing keeper inside the realm, and Havertz had the straightforward job of tapping in from a yard or two out.

The house followers began letting off fireworks contained in the Estadio Jose Alvalade, however all of the leisure was being provided by the boys in purple and white. We have been knocking the ball round in midfield, our motion inflicting no finish of issues for a workforce that hasn’t dropped a degree at dwelling within the league because the season earlier than final.

The locals have been rising more and more stressed, not used to any visiting workforce dominating them on this means. Their final dwelling sport on this competitors don’t overlook, was a 4-1 dispatching of Manchester Metropolis.

And actually with the final contact of the primary half, Gabriel made it 3-0. Declan Rice’s swerving nook from the best was simply on the cash for our massive Brazilian defender, arriving to energy in his header on the far publish. It was a near-perfect first-half show.