Manchester City Stunned by Sporting CP in Champions League Thriller
In a shocking turn of events, Manchester City suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Sporting CP in their UEFA Champions League group stage encounter. The match, which took place at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, saw Ruben Amorim’s side produce a stunning comeback after going behind early in the game. This result marks City’s third consecutive defeat across all competitions and raises questions about their current form.
| Key Moments |
|---|
| 4′ – Phil Foden opens the scoring for Manchester City |
| 38′ – Viktor Gyokeres equalizes for Sporting CP |
| 46′ – Maximiliano Araujo puts Sporting CP ahead |
| 49′ – Gyokeres scores from the penalty spot |
| 67′ – Erling Haaland misses a penalty for Manchester City |
| 81′ – Gyokeres completes his hat-trick with another penalty |
First Half: City’s Early Dominance
The match began with Manchester City asserting their dominance, as they have done so often in recent years. It took only four minutes for the visitors to break the deadlock, with Phil Foden capitalizing on a defensive error by Hidemasa Morita. The young English midfielder dispossessed Morita and coolly slotted the ball past Antonio Adán in the Sporting goal.
For the next 30 minutes, it seemed as though City would run away with the game. Erling Haaland, in particular, had numerous chances to extend the lead. The Norwegian striker had four shots in the first half hour alone, with one header cleared off the line and several saves made by Adán. However, City’s inability to convert these chances would come back to haunt them.
Despite City’s dominance, Sporting CP remained a threat on the counter-attack. Their persistence paid off in the 38th minute when Viktor Gyokeres latched onto a defense-splitting pass. The Swedish striker, who had earlier missed a one-on-one opportunity, made no mistake this time as he chipped the ball over the onrushing Ederson to level the score.
Second Half: Sporting’s Remarkable Turnaround
If the first half was a story of City’s missed opportunities, the second half was a tale of Sporting’s ruthless efficiency. The home side came out of the break with renewed vigor, and what followed was one of the most remarkable starts to a half in Champions League history.
Just 20 seconds after the restart, Sporting took the lead. In a move reminiscent of the 1974 World Cup final, Sporting scored directly from kick-off without a single City player touching the ball. Pedro Gonçalves glided in from the left and played a perfect through ball to Maximiliano Araujo, who drilled a shot past Ederson, albeit with a slight deflection off the goalkeeper’s leg.
Before City could catch their breath, they found themselves two goals behind. In the 49th minute, Josko Gvardiol brought down Francisco Trincão in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot. Viktor Gyokeres stepped up and confidently sent Ederson the wrong way to make it 3-1.
City’s Missed Opportunity and Sporting’s Coup de Grâce
Manchester City had a golden opportunity to get back into the game in the 67th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Bernardo Silva’s effort struck the arm of Ousmane Diomande, and after a VAR review, the referee awarded the spot-kick. However, Erling Haaland, usually so reliable from 12 yards, clipped the crossbar with his effort, summing up City’s night of frustration.
Any hopes of a late comeback were extinguished in the 81st minute when Sporting were awarded their second penalty of the night. Matheus Nunes pulled back his marker after losing possession, and Viktor Gyokeres stepped up once again. The Swedish striker made no mistake, completing his hat-trick and sealing a famous 4-1 victory for Sporting CP.
Tactical Analysis
Ruben Amorim, in his last home game before taking charge at Manchester United, set up his Sporting side to absorb pressure and hit City on the counter-attack. This strategy proved effective, particularly in the second half when City pushed forward in search of an equalizer.
Pep Guardiola’s decision to hand a full debut to teenage defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey backfired, as Sporting targeted City’s right flank. The combination of Pedro Gonçalves and Trincão caused problems throughout the night, with their direct dribbling and quick interplay exposing City’s defensive vulnerabilities.
City’s usual possession-based game was disrupted by Sporting’s high-energy pressing, particularly in the second half. The absence of Rodri in midfield was keenly felt, as City struggled to control the tempo of the game and protect their defense.
Player Ratings
Manchester City:
Ederson (5/10): Had a night to forget. Could have done better for Sporting’s second goal and was unable to save either penalty.
Kyle Walker (5/10): Struggled to contain Sporting’s attacks down his flank and offered little going forward.
Ruben Dias (6/10): The most composed of City’s defenders, but unable to organize the backline effectively.
Josko Gvardiol (4/10): A poor performance, culminating in conceding the penalty for Sporting’s third goal.
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (4/10): A baptism of fire for the young defender. Looked out of his depth at times.
Mateo Kovacic (5/10): Failed to control the midfield and was overrun in the second half.
Bernardo Silva (6/10): Tried to make things happen but lacked support from his teammates.
Phil Foden (7/10): City’s best player on the night. Took his goal well and continued to threaten throughout.
Julian Alvarez (5/10): Anonymous for large parts of the game. Substituted in the second half.
Jack Grealish (5/10): Failed to make an impact and was unable to create chances for his teammates.
Erling Haaland (4/10): A frustrating night for the striker. Missed several chances and a crucial penalty.
Substitutes:
Jeremy Doku (5/10): Introduced to add pace but had little impact on the game.
Ilkay Gundogan (5/10): Unable to change the course of the match after coming on.
Kevin De Bruyne (6/10): Showed flashes of his quality in his brief cameo but too little, too late.
Sporting CP:
Antonio Adán (8/10): Made several crucial saves in the first half to keep Sporting in the game.
Gonçalo Inácio (7/10): Solid defensive performance, particularly in the second half.
Sebastián Coates (7/10): Led the backline well and made some important interceptions.
Ousmane Diomande (7/10): Strong in defense, despite conceding the penalty.
Ricardo Esgaio (7/10): Worked tirelessly on the right flank, both in attack and defense.
Hidemasa Morita (6/10): Recovered well after his early error led to City’s goal.
Morten Hjulmand (7/10): Controlled the midfield in the second half, disrupting City’s rhythm.
Nuno Santos (7/10): Provided width and support on the left side.
Pedro Gonçalves (8/10): A constant threat with his dribbling and creativity. Set up the second goal.
Francisco Trincão (8/10): Caused problems for City’s defense all night and won the first penalty.
Viktor Gyokeres (9/10): Man of the match with a superb hat-trick. Showed clinical finishing and composure.
Substitutes:
Maximiliano Araujo (8/10): Made an immediate impact with his goal seconds after coming on.
Marcus Edwards (7/10): Added fresh energy to Sporting’s attack in the latter stages.
Matheus Nunes (6/10): Helped see out the game but conceded the late penalty.
Implications and Looking Ahead
This result sees Sporting CP move up to second in their Champions League group, while Manchester City drop to sixth. It’s a significant blow to City’s ambitions of topping the group and raises questions about their current form.
For Sporting and Ruben Amorim, it’s a perfect send-off for the manager in his final home game. The result will undoubtedly boost confidence as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Manchester City, on the other hand, face a crucial period. With three consecutive defeats, Pep Guardiola needs to rally his troops quickly. Their next fixture, away to Brighton in the Premier League, takes on added importance as they look to get their season back on track.
This match will be remembered as one of the great Champions League upsets and a testament to the unpredictable nature of football. For Sporting CP, it’s a night that will live long in the memory of their fans. For Manchester City, it’s a harsh reminder that even the mightiest can fall.
For a video review of the match, you can check out the highlights on Manchester City’s official YouTube channel: HIGHLIGHTS Sporting CP 4-1 Man City | Foden, Gyorkeres hat-trick …
This stunning result serves as a reminder of why football fans around the world love the sport. It’s matches like these that make the Champions League one of the most exciting competitions in world football. As the tournament progresses, both teams will be eager to build on this result – Sporting looking to continue their giant-killing run, and Manchester City aiming to prove that this was merely a blip in their quest for European glory.
Further Reading
[1] https://www.skysports.com/football/sporting-vs-man-city/report/521661
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oC50pKc6Vc
[3] https://cityxtra.co.uk/20651/match-report-and-player-ratings-sporting-cp-4-1-manchester-city-uefa-champions-league/
[4] https://www.eurosport.com/football/champions-league/2024-2025/sporting-cp-4-1-manchester-city-viktor-gyokeres-hat-trick-stuns-english-champions-in-ruben-amorim-s-_sto10387297/story.shtml
[5] https://onefootball.com/en/news/match-report-and-player-ratings-sporting-cp-4-1-manchester-city-uefa-champions-league-40268777
[6] https://www.eurosport.com/football/champions-league/2024-2025/sporting-cp-v-manchester-city-uefa-champions-league-live_sto10387297/story.shtml