UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Finals First Leg: Preview and Predictions

Here we take a look at the previews and predictions for the first leg fixtures of the 2025/26 UCL quarter-finals. 

Sporting CP vs Arsenal

After being outclassed by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the EFL Cup final, Mikel Arteta’s men then failed to make their superiority count in Saturday’s loss at St Mary’s, where Gyokeres’s equaliser was not enough to prevent the North London side from slipping to their first back-to-back defeats of the season – as well as crashing out of this year’s FA Cup competition in the quarter-final round. 

However, dreams of a double still remain very much alive, with the Gunners sitting nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table, albeit having played one game more than second-placed Manchester City, while a return to Champions League action offers further reason for optimism.

Although yet to register their first regulation-time win against Arsenal in five matches, Sporting can nevertheless be optimistic of getting the better of the Gunners on Tuesday, buoyed by their explosive home form, having won each of their last 17 matches in front of their supporters. Sporting’s impressive Champions League run has also been largely built on their formidable record at Jose Alvalade.

After suffering a 3-0 defeat in the round of 16 first leg at Bodo/Glimt, Rui Borges’s men became just the fifth side to overturn a three-goal deficit in the Champions League knockout, recording a stunning 5-0 triumph in the return leg at Jose Alvalade to seal a historic quarter-final berth. Thus, Tuesday’s encounter will be anything but a stroll in the park for the Gunners. 

In terms of team news and injuries, Sporting will take a last-minute call on striker Luis Suarez’s participation while the hosts will remain without Fotis Ioannidis, Geovany Quenda and Nuno Santos. Luis Guilherme is also a doubt due to an ankle problem, and Ivan Fresneda — who missed the previous outing through illness — is touch and go for this one. Furthermore, Sporting must cope without captain Morten Hjulmand, who is suspended for this clash. 

As for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta will be sweating over the fitness of centre-back Gabriel Maghalaes after the Brazilian was forced off the pitch against Southampton while, Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapie and Mikel Merino are confirmed absentees for the trip to Lisbon as they continue their recoveries from injury.

Looking ahead to this contest, both sides enter with contrasting momentum but possess strong records to draw confidence from. This encounter therefore appears finely balanced, with the two teams likely to cancel each other out in a contest that could feature goals at both ends, particularly if the Gunners are unable to field their strongest defensive pairing.

Score Prediction: Sporting CP 2-2 Arsenal 

Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid

Atletico are preparing to face Barcelona for the second time in their run of three head-to-head matches in quick succession, with the Catalan club winning the first encounter at the Metropolitan Stadium last weekend which was a La Liga clash. 

With their Champions League qualification for next season almost secured but the league title out of sight, Diego Simeone’s side only have this competition and the Copa del Rey final on April 18, as the only two trophies they can lay their hands on this season. 

That said, their opponents have been ruthless of late, dispatching a hapless Newcastle United side in the Round of 16 second leg as well as running over their La Liga opponents with ease. However, unlike Atletico, their slender four-point lead at the top of the La Liga table means they can’t afford to take any domestic fixture lightly. 

Besides, these two sides have already met four times this season, with Atletico’s first leg 4-0 win at the Copa del Rey enough to take them to the final despite Barca’s second leg heroics while the Catalan club did the double over Atleti in the league. Thus, their recent head-to-head currently stands at 5-1 to Barca, including their latest win over the weekend. 

In terms of team news and injuries, 

Marcos Llorente, Johnny Cardoso and Pablo Barrios will definitely miss out for Atletico this weekend, while Jan Oblak, Marc Pubill,  Rodrigo Mendoza and Alexander Sorloth are regarded as doubts.

As for Barcelona, Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury while on international break, and will remain out of action until the start of May. Andreas Christensen remains a long-term absentee, while Frenkie de Jong sits out with a hamstring issue, but could potentially feature in the Champions League clash between the two sides next week. Meanwhile, both Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde are back in training after recovering from their respective hamstring injuries.

Looking ahead to this fixture, Atletico have now lost three games on the bounce against Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid, and Barcelona last weekend, and they have somewhat of a midfield crisis for this match. Thus, despite some initial resistance maybe, we expect the Catalan giants to register a comfortable first leg win. 

Score Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Atletico Madrid