Havertz gives Arsenal last-minute win over Sporting CP in 2026 UEFA Champions League QF first leg

Kai Havertz gave Arsenal a crucial win at the Jose Alvalade stadium and you lived every moment of this game with Bolavip!

Despite a last attack from Sporting, Arsenal won the first game of the quarterfinals against Sporting with Kai Havertz as the main character.

Kai Havertz came from nowhere to score the goal for Arsenal.

Two minutes of additional time at Jose Alvalade Stadium.

A great attack from Suarez and Geno ended in a free throw for Sporting, but Arsenal start to let the Portuguese side do their thing.

Despite they don't have a bad result, scoring a goal could be a great way to end this matchup. However, they haven't find the right spot to do that.

Despite their attempts to score, they are not choosing well in the last quarter and Sporting are defending this result.

Despite the couple of attempts, Arsenal keep their dominance in the game. Sporting make a substitution to try and win this matchup with Goncalves out for Nel.

Trossard and Madueke are out, while Martinelli and young prospect Dowman take the field.

With a complicated panorama regarding the goals in this matchup, Arsenal and Sporting have made plenty of fouls in each sides.

Odegaard is out and Kai Havertz enters to the field.

The possession and the best chances are for Arsenal, as Sporting are trying to keep the ball possession, but the English side is pressing a lot.

With Gyokeres shooting from the edge of the area, Arsenal are sending a clear message about their intentions to score.

The English side wants to score no matter what, and Sporting is now defending their area from the attacks.

Despite Zubimendi's goal, VAR called the referee and disallowed the goal for Arsenal.

Sporting's defense is playing outstandingly and Arsenal can't find the right spot to score a goal.

One of the main players of Sporting tried to score from a long range shoot, but the ball went wide and Arsenal know that's another tool for them to pay attention to.

With two corner kicks, Arsenal tried to score the first goal of the game, while Sporting took advantage of a counterattack, but they couldn't score.

Despite the attempts, Arsenal have in shooting outside the area their new tool to attack Sporting.

Arsenal and Sporting are playing the second half with another mentality and the options go from Raya's side to Silva's side.

With the second half underway, Sporting try hard to score the first goal of the game, but Arsenal are firm in defense.

Sporting and Arsenal play the last 45 minutes of this first game of the quarterfinals round in the Champions League.

Possession: Sporting CP 48% | Arsenal 52%

Total Shots: Sporting CP 4 | Arsenal 3

Shots on Target: Sporting CP 1 | Arsenal 1

Pass Accuracy: Sporting CP 81% | Arsenal 85%

Yellow Cards: Sporting CP 2 | Arsenal 0

Corners: Sporting CP 1 | Arsenal 2

Without additional time, Arsenal and Sporting CP end the first half. 

The Portuguese side have made multiple passes, and with it, they are holding a 48% and Arsenal are at 52%.

The ball moves from one way to another and Sporting can't find the spot to create dangerous chances.

Their passing have become an issue to find the goal defended by Silva, despite they have the ball possession. They haven't been able to create a clear chance in the last minutes.

Sporting does not seem comfortable currently in the game, while Arsenal keep attacking to score the first goal of the game with Madueke and Rice.

Luis Javier Suarez sees the yellow card due to exchange with the referee about a play. 

Morita sees the first yellow card of the game for Sporting. Free kick for Arsenal.

During this first 30 minutes of playing, Arsenal have taken the ball possession and Sporting are trying hard to make things happen. However, the score remains the same as we started the matchup, and there is expectation for the final result.

The Portuguese side is trying hard to make things happen from the defenders to the strikers, but in this case, it's Arsenal's defense which have controlled the attacks from Sporting.

Trincao and the defenders from Sporting are trying to keep the ball on their possession, as Arsenal reduced their intensity during this part of the game.

71% of the ball possession is for Arsenal and 29% is for Sporting so far.

Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard are trying to help Arsenal to get the ball and are the ones trying to put the strikers in the best possible position to score, but Sporting are defending outstandingly so far.

Despite Arsenal are pressing in Sporting's area, the Portuguese side took control of the ball possession.

Arsenal's strikers are trying hard to make things difficult for Sporting's defense and the pressing is one of their tools.

After the last couple of minutes were intense from Sporting in the offense, Arsenal are now trying to score with free kicks. Also, with corner kicks they want to break the tie at Estadio Jose Alvalade, but without success.

The Colombian striker is trying hard to find the ball in Arsenal's goal defended by David Raya. However, he hasn't had a clear chance to score.

As predicted, Sporting try to score since the first minute of the game, and Arsenal are waiting for their chance to score on Silva's goal.

The player had a second chance to score, but this time the ball went wide.

Despite it was an offside, Araujo hit the post with his left foot. The stadium went wild after that chance to score.

With the situation controlled by Arsenal in the first minutes of the game, Sporting now have the ball and there is expectation for what can happen with this.

As expected in the beginning of the matchup, Arsenal have the ball on their side of the field. Sporting wait for the best time to attack.

The first half starts at Jose Alvalade Stadium.

Arsenal will have to navigate this opening leg without two of their most dynamic creators. Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze have both been ruled out of today’s quarterfinal clash against Sporting CP.

Players for both sides have taken the field for warmups at the Jose Alvalade stadium!

All eyes turn to Lisbon tonight as Sporting CP prepare to host Arsenal in the first leg of a high-stakes UEFA Champions League quarterfinal. The clash will unfold at the iconic Jose Alvalade Stadium, a venue steeped in European football lore.

Since opening its doors for Euro 2004, the Alvalade has served as a theater for some of the sport’s most significant moments. From hosting a UEFA Cup Final to serving as a primary battleground for the Portuguese National Team’s World Cup qualifying campaigns, the 50,000-seat stadium is renowned for its intimidating atmosphere and rich history.

Sporting CP's starting XI: Rui Silva; Ivan Fresneda, Ousmane Diomande, Goncalo Inacio, Maximiliano Araujo; Hidemasa Morita, Joao Simoes, Geny Catamo, Trincao; Luis Javier Suarez, Pedro Goncalves

Arsenal's starting XI: David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori; Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice; Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Leandro Trossard.

Daniel Siebert has been appointed to officiate the clash between Sporting CP and Arsenal. He will be joined on the field by Jan Siedel and Rafael Foltyn, who are set to serve as the assistant referees.

Full officiating team:

• Referee: Daniel Siebert - Germany
• Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel - Germany
• Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn - Germany
• Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager - Germany
• VAR: Bastian Dankert - Germany
• Assistant VAR: Soren Storks - Germany

Sporting CP vs Arsenal will get underway at 3:00 PM ET (PT: 12:00 PM)

Watch this 2026 UEFA Champions League match between Sporting CP and Arsenal live in the USA on Paramount + or VIX.

Welcome to our live blog of the UEFA Champions League clash!

Sporting CP face Arsenal in Lisbon, in a crucial clash as both teams aim to have the advantage for the second leg game. Sporting CP look to win at home, while Arsenal arrive hoping to get a positive result.

Stay with us for key updates and minute-by-minute action as Sporting CP and Arsenal battle it out in Lisbon!