Official: Calafiori starts for Arsenal in Champions League quarter-final tie

Riccardo Calafiori starts for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s side take on Sporting CP in Lisbon in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday evening. 

• Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News and Content – Free Trial – Click Here

Calafiori starts for Arsenal in Champions League quarter-final

Calafiori starts at left-back as usual in what is Arsenal’s strongest available back four, along with Benjamin White, William Slaiba and Gabriel Magalhaes. 

Calafiori is the only Italian player involved in tonight’s two Champions League quarter-final matches. This will be the Italy international’s fifth Champions League appearance this term. 

Tonight’s is the first leg of Arsenal’s quarter-final tie against Sporting. The Gunners beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 on aggregate over two legs of their round of 16 match-up in order to qualify for tonight’s quarter-final, although Calafiori was an unused substitute in both of those matches. 

The winner of the Sporting CP-Arsenal quarter-final will go on to face either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.

Arsenal boast the best defensive record in the Champions League this season with just five goals conceded across the 10 matches they have taken part in this term. The North Londoners, among the favourites for the trophy, also finished the league phase in first place with a perfect record of eight wins from eight matches. 

07-04-2026 20:00

1/4 Final

José Alvalade Stadium

Sporting

Arsenal

vs

Season Analytics

Sporting

Positions

Arsenal

SEASON TOTAL

SCP HOME

5

0

0

6

1

3

Last matches

17-03-2026		Bodø/Glimt	W	5 - 0
11-03-2026		Bodø/Glimt	L	3 - 0
28-01-2026		Athletic	W	2 - 3
20-01-2026		PSG	W	2 - 1
09-12-2025		Bayern	L	3 - 1

17-03-2026		Bodø/Glimt	W	5 - 0
20-01-2026		PSG	W	2 - 1
26-11-2025		Club Brugge	W	3 - 0
22-10-2025		Marseille	W	2 - 1
18-09-2025		Kairat	W	4 - 1

SEASON TOTAL

ARS AWAY

4

1

0

9

1

0

Last matches

	2 - 0	W	Leverkusen		17-03-2026
	1 - 1	D	Leverkusen		11-03-2026
	3 - 2	W	Kairat		28-01-2026
	1 - 3	W	Inter		20-01-2026
	0 - 3	W	Club Brugge		10-12-2025

	1 - 1	D	Leverkusen		11-03-2026
	1 - 3	W	Inter		20-01-2026
	0 - 3	W	Club Brugge		10-12-2025
	0 - 3	W	Slavia Praha		04-11-2025
	0 - 2	W	Athletic		16-09-2025