Gyökeres afraid of former team-mate? Sporting v Arsenal, fiery reunion | OneFootball

As Sporting and Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-finals draw closer — with tickets already sold out for Alvalade — a story linking the two sides is emerging. The reunion between Ousmane Diomande and Viktor Gyökeres promises to draw special attention, following the strong bond built during the 2023/24 season.

During that period, the defender and the striker shared 79 matches and more than 5,800 minutes, contributing to the back-to-back league title and the domestic double. The intensity they showed in competition was also reflected in training, where their duels raised the temperature. One of those episodes became public on March 14, 2023, in the second leg of the Europa League round of 16 against Atalanta, when cameras caught a disagreement between the two that required the intervention of their teammates.

Days later, before the visit to Boavista, Ruben Amorim commented on the situation. "That’s just how they are... They rarely play against each other in training, especially in small-sided games — and I make sure that happens so they don’t get angry. They already have some history, but if there’s one thing this team needs, it’s players like that," he said. "But their characteristics also lead to those situations. If it were me, I’d be worse..." he added.

Despite the clashes in training, the relationship between the two remained positive and always focused on collective success. Now, with Gyökeres at Arsenal, the reunion takes on a new dimension. Rui Borges knows that the Swedish striker knows Sporting well, but he also recognises that Diomande could be a key piece in stopping a player who left his mark during his time at Alvalade.

The first leg will be played at Alvalade on April 7, with the second leg in London (15). Before that, however, the Lions will take the field on Friday, April 3, against Santa Clara. The match, for round 28 of the Liga Portugal Betclic, against Petit’s side, will be played at the Estádio José Alvalade at 8:30pm.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.