The team lose 1-5 at home to Arsenal

Sporting Clube de Portugal their first setback in the UEFA Champions League, losing 1-5 at home to Arsenal on Matchday 5 of the league phase.

At a sold-out Estádio José Alvalade, the coaching staff made several changes to the starting lineup, with Franco Israel, Ousmane Diomande, Geovany Quenda, Hidemasa Morita, Maxi Araújo and Viktor Gyökeres returning.

The first half was tough for Sporting CP. Arsenal started well, with a very high press, and managed to open the scoring after just seven minutes: Jurriën Timber's pass from the right passed through the defence in the area before reaching Gabriel Martinelli, who only had to tap it in.

Sporting CP tried to react and Maxi Araújo produced a beautiful move, placing the ball in the heart of the area, but no teammate was on hand to take the shot. After that, it was Geovany Quenda's turn to cross dangerously -Timber cutting it out for a corner.

After a shot from Arsenal's Thomas Partey, saved comfortably by Franco Israel, the visitors made it 0-2 through Kai Havertz with an assist from Bukayo Saka.

Israel made another stop from Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice shot wide, as the Gunners continued to cause problems.

Maxi Araújo created another chance for Sporting CP when he recovered the ball and advanced upfield to set up Geovany Quenda, but the youngster's shot with his weaker foot was saved by David Raya for a corner.

Arsenal scored again just before the half-time whistle, this time from a corner kick from Rice, headed in by Gabriel Magalhães.

Sporting CP came out determined for the second half, and on 47 minutes, Hidemasa Morita shot from the 'D', pulling a save from David Raya.

In the corner kick that followed, Francisco Trincão dropped the ball into the area and Gonçalo Inácio shot to score, reducing the defecit to 1-3.

Motivated by the goal, Sporting CP put Arsenal on the ropes and had several opportunities in the moments that followed. From a free kick, Viktor Gyökeres struck wide and Marcus Edwards, in an attack that combined a cross and a shot, forced Raya to intervene again.

Jeremiah St. Juste also caused trouble for the opposing goalkeeper with a header, and both Edwards and Gyökeres shot wide on other occasions. However, against the run of play, Arsenal won a penalty and Saka converted to make it 1-4.

Sporting CP didn't give up and continued to search for goal. Gyökeres, in the 67th minute, had a deflected shot end up in the goalkeeper's hands. Soon after, Daniel Bragança and Geny Catamo came on in place of Edwards and Araújo.

In the 73rd minute, Morten Hjulmand's shot was kept out by Raya. Trincão also threatened with a shot that was deflected out for a corner.

The final goal was conceded late on. Israel saved Mikel Merino's first shot, but Leandro Trossard appeared on the follow-up to convert the rebound.

Sporting CP could have scored again in the 86th minute, when substitute Conrad Harder played through Gyökeres at speed for the striker to beat two opponents, before firing hard at the post.

A 1-5 defeat ended an unbeaten run in the Champions League. They will now host CD Santa Clara in Liga Portugal on Saturday.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Jeremiah St. Juste, Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio (Matheus Reis, 88'), Geovany Quenda, Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita (Conrad Harder, 77'), Maxi Araújo (Geny Catamo, 67'), Francisco Trincão (João Simões, 88'), Marcus Edwards (Daniel Bragança, 67') and Viktor Gyökeres.