Arsenal ended Sporting CP’s club-record winning run on Tuesday, inflicting a rare home defeat on this week’s hosts.
Following Sporting CP’s 4-2 win over Santa Clara last Friday, the club set a new record for the most consecutive home wins in their history.
The Santa Clara victory took Sporting to 17 straight victories at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, surpassing their previous record run of 16 home wins in 1973/74.
Along the way, Sporting had defeated Champions League opponents Marseille, Club Brugge, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bodo/Glimt, as well as beating domestic rivals FC Porto in the Portuguese cup.
But Arsenal ended that run on Tuesday, as Kai Havertz’s late winner secured a 1-0 first-leg quarter-final victory over the Lisbon-based side.
Even a draw would have been enough to end Sporting’s winning run of 17, but their defeat ensured that Sporting’s unbeaten run of 20 home games also came to an end.
Sporting’s last home draw had been against Braga in October, and their last home defeat was against Porto in August.
Sporting will now look to take revenge on the Gunners in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium next Wednesday, April 15th.
But with Arsenal holding a first-leg lead, Mikel Arteta’s side will hope they have the advantage in the quarter-final tie.