Arsenal, in a packed Emirates Stadium with home fans, defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 UEFA Champions League. There, they will face Sporting Lisbon, who eliminated Bodo Glimt.
Eberechi Eze, with a stunning goal in the first half, and Declan Rice in the second half were the goal scorers for Mikel Arteta’s team.
Unquestioned leaders of the Premier League and already in a new stage of the Champions League, the Gunners are going all out this season.
Quarterfinals schedule
The 2026 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals are scheduled to take place this April, featuring the top eight clubs remaining in the competition.
Declan Rice.
The first-leg matches will be held on April 7 and 8, followed quickly by the decisive second-leg fixtures on April 14 and 15. Arsenal, finishing first in the overall standings, will host the second leg of the tie.
see also
Vinicius Jr. equals Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time Real Madrid Champions League assist mark
A tough opponent ahead
After a 3-0 first-leg loss in Norway, Sporting Lisbon dominated the return fixture at home, winning 5-0 in extra time to secure a 5-3 aggregate victory. Goncalo Inacio, Pote, Luis Suarez, Araujo, and Rafael Nel were the goal scorers.
Sporting Lisbon.
Chasing their first Champions League
Despite being one of England’s most prestigious clubs, Arsenal have yet to win a UEFA Champions League title. Their best historical performance in the competition remains the 2005/06 season, when they reached the final in Paris but suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against Barcelona.
More recently, Mikel Arteta’s men reached the semifinals during the 2024/25 campaign, where they were ultimately eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain.
