Sporting CP head coach Rui Borges has praised David Raya as the “best player on the pitch” despite his team’s 1–0 loss to Arsenal F.C. in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.

The match, held in Lisbon, saw Kai Havertz score a dramatic stoppage-time winner to secure victory for Arsenal.

Borges emphasized that Raya’s performance was decisive, producing multiple crucial saves that kept Sporting in contention throughout the match.

The Spanish goalkeeper’s display earned him UEFA’s official Player of the Match award, highlighting his influence on the outcome.

In a post-match interview with Prime Video, Borges said, “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.”

Borges added, with a hint of irony, that Sporting’s own goalkeeper, Rui Silva, “was not overly troubled, and it was a pretty equal game.”

Raya’s heroics underscored Arsenal’s defensive strength and contributed directly to their narrow advantage ahead of the second leg.

The result sets up a tense return fixture, with Sporting seeking to overturn the deficit in front of their home fans.

Analysts noted that while Havertz’s goal grabbed headlines, Raya’s consistent shot-stopping was critical in limiting Sporting’s scoring opportunities.

The first-leg victory positions Arsenal favorably as they pursue a place in the Champions League semi-finals.