Our under-19s travel to Portugal knowing that only a win against Sporting CP will give us the best chance of progressing. The decisive clash takes place on Tuesday, November 26, with kick-off at 1pm (UK time) at CGD Stadium Aurélio Pereira.
Max Porter's side are eager to bounce back after a tough defeat to Inter Milan in our last UEFA Youth League outing. The result leaves us in 28th place, a precarious position where nothing less than a victory over Sporting will keep our qualification hopes alive. With just one group game remaining after this, a win is crucial to climbing into the top 22 and securing a coveted spot in the knockout stages.
The Opposition
Under the guidance of Tiago Fernandes, Sporting U19s have enjoyed a stellar Youth League campaign so far. They sit third in the table with 10 points, courtesy of three wins and a draw in their four matches. Sporting began their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Lille before stringing together an impressive trio of victories over PSV, Sturm Graz, and Manchester City.
Domestically, Sporting’s U19s side competes in the Campeonato Nacional de Juniores Group B. They currently sit in fifth place with 17 points from 11 matches, boasting five wins, two draws, and four losses. They enter this match fresh off a commanding win over Académico de Viseu.
Historically, Sporting is one of Portugal's most successful youth teams, with 17 league titles to their name—the third most in the country, behind FC Porto (23) and Benfica (25). Their last national title came in the 2016/17 season.
Youth League Pedigree
This marks Sporting’s sixth UEFA Youth League campaign. In 2021/22, they reached the quarter-finals but were eliminated by eventual champions Benfica. The following year, they went one step further, making it to the semi-finals before a penalty shootout loss to AZ Alkmaar, who also went on to lift the trophy.
We’ve previously faced Sporting CP at a similar level in the 2013 NextGen Series third-place play-off, where the Portuguese side emerged victorious with a 3-1 win. The NextGen Series was a European youth club competition that preceded the UEFA Youth League, offering a platform for top academy teams to compete internationally. Our side that day featured the likes of Ainsley Maitland Niles, Chuba Akpom and Isaac Hayden.
How to follow
Stay connected with live commentary on our academy’s X page. After the final whistle, a full match report will be available on Arsenal.com, along with highlights and post-match interviews with Max Porter and one of our young Gunners.
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