Sporting are seeking to overturn their 1-0 Champions League deficit when they face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night
09:47, 15 Apr 2026Updated 09:47, 15 Apr 2026
Mikel Arteta
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Arsenal host Sporting in Champions League quarter-final action on Wednesday night
Arsenal have been handed a major boost after Sporting boss Rui Borges confirmed Ivan Fresneda has been ruled out of tonight's Champions League clash.
There had been plenty of noise in Portugal about the right-back's fitness as he is considered a key player for the Primeira Liga outfit.
Fresneda was previously on Mikel Arteta's transfer radar back in January 2023 but he later joined Sporting instead from Real Valladolid.
The 21-year-old defender was forced off at half-time on Saturday when Sporting ran out 1-0 winners at Estrela Amadora.
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Initially, it was described as a precautionary substitution that would give Fresneda a chance to prove his fitness in time for tonight's second-leg but the Spaniard has not travelled to London after failing a late fitness test.
Georgios Vagiannidis and Eduardo Quaresma are the two candidates to replace him in Sporting's starting XI.
Meanwhile, Belgian defender Zeno Debast and Joao Simoes, who started the first-leg in midfield, have travelled but there are doubts either player is ready to feature from the get-go after recovering from respective fitness issues.
Portuguese newspaper A Bola has predicted Sporting's starting line-up and Rui Silva is likely to feature between the sticks. The defence could be made up of Quaresma, Ousmane Diomande, Goncalo Inacio and Maxi Araujo, who impressed against Arsenal in Lisbon.
Morten Hjulmand is back from suspension and should partner Hidemasa Morita in central midfield.
Ivan Fresneda
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Ivan Fresneda started the first leg for Sporting against Arsenal but will not be available for the second leg at the Emirates
Geny Catamo, who was a threat in the first-leg, will start on the right while Trincao could play as the No.10 and Pedro Goncalves will play off the left.
Top goalscorer Luis Suarez, who also spoke at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening, should lead the line.
Arsenal are also facing fitness issues of their own after five key stars missed Tuesday's open training session at London Colney.
Declan Rice is facing a late fitness test, captain Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori have yet to recover from the issues they sustained in Lisbon while Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber have not played since before the international break.
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Rice is believed to have sustained the issue during Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth when he landed awkwardly after jumping for a header around the 65th minute.
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