Sporting CP vs Arsenal prediction, odds, best bets, TV channel, live stream for Europa League first leg
Premier League leaders Arsenal are taking a break from domestic play to switch to the Europa League and travel to Portugal on Thursday to face Sporting CP in Lisbon.
The clash is the first of two round of 16 games, with the second leg scheduled for a week at Emirates Stadium.
Both clubs face a fierce domestic battle with the Gunners trying to hold off a furious attack from Manchester City in the title race in England, while Sporting are clinging to their Champions League life and fourth in the Portuguese league but are in much better form since the end of the World Cup break.
With both weighing the fight on multiple fronts, an intriguing tactical chess game could ensue as the two sides position themselves for the best chances in the second leg.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal game facts
- Date: Thursday, March 9th
- kick-off time: 12:45 p.m. ET / 5:45 p.m. GMT / 4:45 a.m. AEDT (Fri, March 10)
- Location: Estadio Jose Alvalade (Lisbon, Portugal)
- Officially: Tobias Stieler (DE)
- Last meeting: Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP (11 August 2018 | Europa League)
Sporting CP vs Arsenal prediction, odds
- Moneyline Lean: Draw (+240)
- Outcome Prediction: Sporting CP 1-1 Arsenal
While Arsenal are in great form and able to produce results when they desperately need them, there’s not quite the same urgency with this game. The opponent has quality and they will know that if they see a draw on the road, it is more important to secure a win at all costs.
The last time these teams met, in the first leg, a draw was enough to see Arsenal through to the next round and they will know it will be enough here too.
| BetMGM (UNITED STATES) |
Sports interaction (Canada) |
SkyBet (UNITED KINGDOM) |
neds (Australia) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sporty CP victory | +250 | +237 | 13/5 | 3.50 |
| Pull | +240 | +237 | 12/5 | 3.30 |
| Arsenal win | +110 | +105 | 21/20 | 2.10 |
| Both teams to score Y/N |
-130 / -110 | -137 / -114 | 8/11, 1/1 | 1.75 / 1.95 |
| over under 2.5 goals |
-110 / -130 | -103 / -128 | 11.10., 5.4 | 1.98 / 1.77 |
| Sporting advantage | +220 | — | 5/2 | 1.25 |
| Advance Arsenal | -350 | — | 2/7 | 3.75 |
Sporting CP vs Arsenal: best bet
- Choose: Under 2.5 goals
- Opportunities: -130 (BetMGM)
These two teams are exceptional scorers, but they are also very good defensively and often in the first leg of a two-legged duel the latter shines through as the teams are selective with their attack flow.
These sides met in the 2018/19 Europa League and only one goal was scored in both games while Arsenal went 1-0 on aggregate. Sporting also played against Tottenham in the Champions League group stage this year and kept the record, while falling a bit further they have also met Chelsea and Manchester United in European play in the last 15 years, and each time the first leg ended 1 : 0 .
Finally, consider Arsenal’s problem with the striker as Gabriel Jesus is still not ready to return and Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard only sustained minor injuries, both ruling out the replacement options. Gabriel Martinelli is represented up front and while the Brazilian is certainly capable, the situation is undoubtedly further hampering the Gunners’ attack.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal Prop Bet
- Choose: Bukayo Saka 2+ shots on goal
- Opportunities: +340 (BetMGM)
This selection is of exceptional value as Bukayo Saka’s shooting performance has increased exponentially over the past few weeks. In the first 18 games of the Premier League season, Saka made 34 shots, or about two per game, with 12 of them on target. In his last eight matches, he has had 32 shots and 10 on target, more than double his per-match performance.
Last time these two teams met Arsenal had 10 shots on target so there should be plenty of opportunities to try even if they can’t find the back of the net.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal Live Stream, TV Channel
MORE: Watch Premier League games live with fuboTV in US
| TV channel | stream | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | TUDN USA | Paramount+, ViX, TUDN |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| United Kingdom | BT sport 2 | BT sport |
| Australia | — | Stan sports |
| New Zealand | — | Spark sports |
| India | Sony TEN 2 | Sony LIV, JioTV |
| Hong Kong | beIN Sport 3 | beIN Sports Connect |
| Malaysia | beIN Sport 3 | beIN Sports Connect, sooka |
| Singapore | beIN Sport 3 | beIN Sports Connect, StarHub TV+ |