UCL: Sporting coach, Rui Borges names best player during defeat to Arsenal
Sport UCL: Sporting coach, Rui Borges names best player during defeat to Arsenal Published on April 8, 2026 By Don Silas googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1500386953281-8'); }); Sporting CP head coach, Rui Borges, has named Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as ‘the best player on the pitch’ during both sides’ UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg tie on Tuesday. Despite Kai Havertz’s dramatic stoppage-time winner in Lisbon, Borges insisted that Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya, was the real game-changer. The Spanish shot-stopper produced a string of outstanding saves to deny Sporting, earning UEFA’s official Player of the Match award. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1524595905268-5'); }); In a post-match interview with Prime Video, Borges explained: “Yes, I’d say David Raya was the best player on the pitch tonight because we had some really, really good chances to score, but he made some superb saves.” He added with a touch of irony: “On the other end, our keeper Rui Silva was not overly troubled, and it was a pretty equal game.” Don't Miss UCL: Thierry Henry names most solid team in competition, reveals Arsenal’s weakness You may like UCL: Thierry Henry names most solid team in competition, reveals Arsenal’s weakness UCL: Why we lost to Bayern Munich – Real Madrid manager, Arbeloa UCL: Arsenal make record after win over Sporting UCL: Tchouaméni suspended for Real Madrid’s second leg against Bayern Munich in Germany UCL: ‘Superb’ – Piers Morgan praises two Arsenal players after 1-0 win against Sporting UCL: ‘They’ll slaughter them – Christophe Duggary predicts Liverpool vs PSG