There are many great games in the Champions League round 5, such as Bayern vs PSG, and Inter Milan vs RB Leipzig, but Sporting CP vs Arsenal might be the most exciting.
Sporting CP Champions League journey has been a fairy tale, with the Portuguese champions sitting in second place, with three victories in four games, including a historic 4-1 win versus Manchester City.
However, Ruben Amorim has joined Manchester United, and former Sporting CP player, João Pereira, has taken the helm. This has left many wondering how this Sporting side will perform from now on, especially Sporting fans.
A Magic Journey
Sporting CP journey in the Champions League, and domestic league, has been magic. The Lions have won their last six games, all by two goals or more, while only conceding seven goals.
Gyokeres proves he is a goal-scoring machine match after match, and this Sporting CP team is a very well-oiled machine.
They only know the taste of victory at home this season, and after a 4-1 win versus Pep Guardiola's side, Sporting has a good chance to make history, once again.
But losing a coach in the middle of the season is never easy. Ruben Amorim was the architect of this Sporting CP side, and losing him can affect this team.
A Season of Ups and Downs
While Sporting has looked fantastic in both domestic and international competitions, Arsenal has shown glimpses of magic.
Arsenal has defeated PSG at home and had some great performances in the Premier League, but the Gunners have also dropped points to Bournemouth and Newcastle United.
In a season where Manchester City has lost three Premier League games in a row and dropped 13 points, most would expect Mikel Arteta's side to lead the league. However, Arsenal sit in fourth place, nine points behind Liverpool.
Arsenal has the talent to beat any team in Europe, but their lack of consistency has hurt them this season and makes them a difficult team to trust.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal Prediction
According to the EA FC 25 simulation, Arsenal will defeat Sporting 1-3, with two goals from Kai Havertz and one from Declan Rice. EA FC 2 predicts Gyokeres to score the Lion's only goal.
I think this is an incredibly hard game to predict. This is the first big test for Sporting CP without Amorim, and Arsenal, while being a thought opponent, have been very inconsistent this season.
My Prediction: This game can go either way, and I think the most valuable bet is over 2.5 goals. I also think both teams to score is a solid bet. However, that depends on Sporting CP performing on a similar level as they did against Manchester City.
What are your predictions for this game? Let us know in the comments below!