Sporting CP\u2019s vice-captain Daniel Braganca singled out \u2018extraordinary\u2019 Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya after the Portuguese club\u2019s Champions League exit.<\/p>\n
Arsenal held a 1-0 advantage from the primary leg in Lisbon last week and managed to secure their place within the Champions League semi-final with a goalless draw on the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
Raya was named UEFA\u2019s Player of the Match for his excellent performance in the primary leg as his high quality saves kept Sporting at bay.<\/p>\n
The Spain international was only tested once by Sporting within the return leg on Wednesday evening but Braganca believes Arsenal\u2019s goalkeeper was a key difference between the 2 sides.<\/p>\n
\u2018Being eliminated for what we did hurts. It leaves a bitter taste after the sport, because we could have scored and revived the tie,\u2019 Braganca told Sport TV.<\/p>\n
\u2018In addition they had opportunities but Arsenal have a unprecedented goalkeeper who makes the goal seem small.\u2019<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Sporting head coach, Rui Borges, believes Arsenal were \u2018lucky\u2019 to progress to the Champions League semi-final.<\/p>\n \u2018I can\u2019t say it hurts. It\u2019s an infinite pride within the team\u2019s personality and skill,\u2019 Borges said.<\/p>\n \u2018I believe in each games we were superior to Arsenal, they ended up being lucky with the goal at Alvalade and went through.<\/p>\n \u2018We showed character in each games, on this extraordinary atmosphere, our fans were also extraordinary. They deserved more but we have now to depart with our heads held high, for the strength and joy they demonstrated.\u2019<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Sporting captain, Morten Hjulmand, bemoaned Arsenal\u2019s delaying tactics at set-pieces and claims it disrupted Sporting\u2019s rhythm.<\/p>\n \u2018I believe today was a balanced game. I believe the impact of the primary game, which we lost, made it harder to go to the Emirates and win, especially once we haven\u2019t lost much at home. I knew it was going to be difficult here too besides it was a game with little intensity, no rhythm, zero goals, boring, I\u2019d say,\u2019 Hjulmand told CBS Sports.<\/p>\n \u2018I believe there have been plenty of interruptions through the game, so we couldn\u2019t get the rhythm we wanted. So, yes, a bit boring if I were a spectator. 0-0, and the primary game was 1-0\u2026 that\u2019s not how Sporting wants to indicate itself. We wish to attain goals, create opportunities and today we didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich<\/p>\n Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2018Throughout the game I felt plenty of stoppages, especially on set-pieces, and that takes plenty of time away from the sport and the rhythm as well.<\/p>\n \u2018After we managed to get into the rhythm, especially in the primary half, I believe we created many opportunities to make it 1-0. But, ultimately, we didn\u2019t create enough to win the sport, to be honest.\u2019<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on ![\"LISBON,](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_292344357-e86d.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
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\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tChampions League semi-final draw\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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