Arsenal sent new Champions League warning after Sporting CP win | OneFootball

Sporting CP coach is convinced of something special against Arsenal in Champions League quarter-final second leg

Rui Borges is confident his Sporting CP side can reach the Champions League semi-final at the expense of Arsenal.

A late goal from Kai Havertz secured a 1-0 win for the Gunners in the quarter-final first leg on Tuesday night, though the hosts looked more likely to score for large spells of the game.

Maximiliano Araujo forced David Raya into making a stunning save early on as his strike was turned onto the bar and the Gunners goalkeeper got down low to keep out Geny Catamo's header in the second half.

Sporting did survive a scare just after the hour mark when Martin Zubimendi’s goal was disallowed by VAR with Viktor Gyokeres offside in the build-up.

Ultimately, Havertz did strike in stoppage time to secured a first leg advantage for the Gunners but Borges says he has seen enough to believe a comeback in the second leg is possible.

"It’s frustrating. It’s only natural to feel a bit frustrated after the great game we played here against a top-class side,” Borges told UEFA.

“If you look at the 92 minutes, we had three or four clear-cut chances, whereas they had none apart from the disallowed goal.

“We just needed to be a bit sharper in front of goal. That’s football; let’s keep our heads up and believe that it’s possible.

"I believe we need to be mature and intelligent in our approach to turning the result around, bearing in mind that we’re playing against a top-class side that can make the difference in the tiniest of spaces, as was the case with today’s goal.

“I’m now firmly convinced that we’ll be competitive in London and that we’ll see this tie through to the end."