Ahead of a highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final clash, Maxi Araujo has clarified that Sporting CP hold no resentment towards Viktor Gyokeres following his summer transfer to Arsenal. The winger emphasised that the entire squad were actually delighted for their former teammate, viewing his move to London as a well-deserved reward for his incredible efforts.
Arsenal have received a significant fitness lift as they gear up for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP. Mikel Arteta welcomed three key first-team stars back into training on Monday as the Gunners look to move past a difficult period of domestic results.
When Sporting CP signed Viktor Gyokeres, they took quite the gamble on a striker whose only consistent form in front of goal had come outside of the top-flight. Having failed to make the grade at Brighton, Gyokeres had proven to be a menace for Championship defences, scoring 43 goals for Coventry City over the course of two-and-a-half seasons with the Sky Blues.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is facing a significant selection headache following a knee injury to Noni Madueke during the international break. The England winger was forced off during a 1-1 draw with Uruguay, joining a growing list of Gunners stars returning to north London for urgent medical assessments. With crucial domestic and European knockout ties approaching, the club's medical team is working overtime to determine the extent of the damage.
Liverpool and Newcastle United have reportedly entered a fierce battle to secure the signature of Sporting CP forward Luis Suarez ahead of the summer transfer window. The Colombian international has enjoyed a prolific campaign in Portugal, attracting elite Premier League interest following a string of dominant displays. With a significant release clause in place, any potential suitor will need to break the bank for the 28-year-old.
The annual NXGN lists are back for 2026, as GOAL ranks the world's top teenage talents in men's and women's football, crowning winners that will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Vicky Lopez in being recognised as the best young footballers on the planet.
Despite the painfully protracted league phase running through the first five months of the season and the play-off round providing some drama, for many the Champions League doesn't truly begin until the last 16 gets underway. If you are one of those fans, then you likely loved the past week or so of European action.
The incredible Champions League journey of Bodo/Glimt has met a dramatic end. After securing a stunning three-goal advantage in Norway, the Arctic underdogs were dismantled by Sporting CP in Lisbon. The Portuguese giants delivered a breathtaking 5-0 victory after extra time, overturning the heavy deficit to secure a historic spot in the quarter-finals.
Sydney Sweeney has been praised for her dribbling skills after showing off her football ability at the Jose Alvalade Stadium after Sporting CP's 3-0 win over Estoril on Friday night. The Hollywood superstar surprised fans after making an unexpected pitch appearance at full time and showcased her fancy footwork following the Liga Portugal clash.
Arsenal will face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last-16, while Liverpool have been paired with Galatasaray. Manchester City must overcome Real Madrid in order to keep their dreams of European glory in 2025-26 alive and Chelsea face a tough test against title holders Paris Saint-Germain. Newcastle are readying themselves for a clash with Barcelona and Tottenham will seek to put their Premier League struggles behind them when locking horns with Atletico Madrid.
Viktor Gyokeres appears to be finally silencing the doubters at the Emirates Stadium, but his recent scoring spree comes with a price tag for the Arsenal hierarchy. The Swedish marksman was the undisputed star of the show during Sunday's derby match, netting a clinical brace as Mikel Arteta’s side dismantled Tottenham Hotspur 4-1. While the Gunners celebrate a dominant victory over their rivals, accountants in Lisbon are also rubbing their hands in anticipation of a looming financial boost.
Portuguese wonderkid Geovany Quenda is not due to link up with Chelsea until the summer of 2026, as he sees a £40 million ($54m) transfer from Sporting pushed through, but the youngster already finds himself at the Blues’ training base. An early visit to west London is allowing the highly-rated teenager to familiarise himself with what will soon become his permanent home.
Cristiano Ronaldo has always been a bad loser, former Manchester United and Portugal team-mate Nani has revealed, with the all-time great breaking down in tears if things did not go his way. CR7 has spent his record-shattering career chasing perfection, with any stumbles endured when heading down that path leading to an outpouring of emotion.
Why does Cristiano Ronaldo always have so much bad luck?!... First, Erik ten Hag didn't recognise his unrivalled ability at Manchester United, then Fernando Santos ruined his 2022 World Cup bid with Portugal. And now, the powers that be in Saudi Arabia are conspiring to make sure his trophy drought in the Middle East extends to three-and-a-half seasons. Give the guy a break!...
The Champions League league phase drew to a predictably chaotic conclusion on Wednesday, with all of the matchday eight fixtures kicking-off at the same time. The net result was numerous positional changes over the course of 90-plus minutes of madness, though the highlight was undoubtedly Anatoliy Trubin scoring a last-second header to keep Benfica in the competition.
Luis Enrique has launched a furious tirade against the nature of the sport, labelling it "sh*tty football" after watching his Paris Saint-Germain side suffer a 2-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon. The Spanish manager insisted it was the "best away match" of his tenure and claimed the result was a total injustice, leaving the French champions' hopes of a top-eight finish hanging in the balance ahead of a crucial showdown with Newcastle.
Sporting CP
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
