90min

X reacts as Man City slip to disastrous Sporting CP defeat in the Champions League

  • Sporting cruised to a 4-1 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday
  • Pep Guardiola's side unable to impress against Ruben Amorim's system
  • How social media reacted to the huge defeat

By Katie Catherall

City recorded a 4-1 defeat to Sporting
City recorded a 4-1 defeat to Sporting / Soccrates Images/GettyImages
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Manchester City were forced to bid farewell to their unbeaten run in the Champions League when they fell to a huge 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP in Lisbon on Tuesday evening.

Incoming Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim aimed to make an impression when he hosted Pep Guardiola's side, recording a stunning victory over the reigning Premier League champions thanks to a hat-trick from in-form striker Viktor Gyokeres.

While Liverpool faced Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid took on Milan in the same evening, all eyes were on the Portuguese side and their comfortable victory. If Amorim can bring his current tactics to Old Trafford, December's Manchester derby may be a blockbuster clash.

After Phil Foden netted in the opening four minutes, City fans will have mistakenly expected Tuesday's game to be a walk in the park.

Little did they know the trouble that they would soon encounter.

However, it did not take long for Sporting star Gyokeres to find the back of the net. After wasting an earlier chance by firing a shot straight into the hands of goalkeeper Ederson, the Swedish striker made sure to finish his 38th minute effort with a crisp shot into the bottom corner of the net.

His superb run against the run of play left Gyokeres with ample time to perfect his shot, dancing around 19-year-old Jahmai Simpson-Pusey.

It took Sporting just 20 seconds from kick-off after the break to fire themselves back into the lead. In incredibly quick succession, the home side manoeuvred the ball towards City's final third before Maximiliano Araujo blasted an effort into the back of the net.

A sublime strike from the Portuguese side kicked off their eventual cruise to success.

Minutes later, Sporting were celebrating once again. This time, the praise returned to Gyokeres as he converted a penalty kick from the spot to strengthen his side's lead.

Sporting had scored two stunning efforts in three minutes, while Guardiola seemed to tremble on the sidelines.

City's usually reliable Erling Haaland was offered the chance to throw his side a lifeline when he stepped up to take a penalty due to an accidental handball by Ousmane Diomande.

The composed, prolific striker crumbled under the pressure of his European opponents, blasting the ball before it ricocheted off the crossbar.

Gyokeres scored his fourth and final goal of the game in the 80th minute, sending Guardiola and his side back to the cold realities of Manchester.

It was a successful night for Sporting, and Amorim, who will undoubtedly have a new-found confidence ahead of his move to Old Trafford on Monday.

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