Manchester City were forced to end their unbeaten run in the Champions League when they fell to Big defeat by 4-1 against Sporting CP in Lisbon on Tuesday evening.
Entering Manchester United Manager Ruben Amorim looked to impress when he hosted Pep Guardiola’s side, recording an impressive victory over the reigning Premier League champions thanks to a hat-trick from in-form striker Viktor Gyokeres.
while Liverpool faced Bayer Leverkusen i Real Madrid faced Milan that 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 could be a blockbuster clash.
Manchester United fans tuning in to support Sporting d’Amorim against Man City tonight
pic.twitter.com/hisqXqITLL— AB
(@AbsoluteBruno) November 5, 2024
fair play, Ruben Amorim can be the first Manchester United manager to have a statue at Old Trafford before starting the job
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) November 5, 2024
This is what Ruben Amorim has built.
Watch the stadium rock!
pic.twitter.com/N3UbAJbmVh
— Ruud’s Reds
(@RuudBalll) November 5, 2024
After Phil Foden scored in the first four minutes, city Fans will have wrongly expected Tuesday’s game to be a walk in the park.
Little did they know the problems they would soon encounter.
Eight goals in his last nine Champions League games – Phil Foden loves European night!
pic.twitter.com/urUoRhtKRy
— 90min (@90min_Futbol) November 5, 2024
Phil Foden has now scored the same number of goals in the Champions League as Ronaldinho (18).
#UCL pic.twitter.com/AgkWFBSH44
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 5, 2024
However, it didn’t take long for the Sporting Gyokeres star to find the back of the net. After wasting an earlier opportunity by firing a shot straight into the hands of goalkeeper Ederson, the Swedish striker made sure to finish off his effort in the 38th minute with a crisp strike into the back of the net.
His superb run against the play left Gyokeres plenty of time to perfect his shot, dancing around 19-year-old Jahmai Simpson-Pusey.
Gyokeres eating that high line from Rico Lewis and Pusey
— BLAC™ (@ArseLegend) November 5, 2024
That Gyokeres goal doesn’t happen if Diaz or Stones were there. He only took advantage of Pusey’s inexperience, a City academy player.
— KC (@KCknowsball) November 5, 2024
Akanji let Simpson-Pusey down tonight.
— Steven (@StevenMcinerney) November 5, 2024
It took Sporting just 20 seconds from the kick-off after the break to get back in front. In incredibly quick succession, the home side maneuvered the ball into City’s final third before Maximiliano Araujo fired an effort into the back of the net.
A sublime attack by the Portuguese team started their eventual cruise to success.
Maximiliano Araújo is the 24th Uruguayan to score in Portugal’s top flight in its 90-year history.
— Uruguayan Warriors (@UruguayanHeroes) November 1, 2024
Araujo with an excellent finish. crumbs
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) November 5, 2024
Sporting makes it 2-1 from the start…
The Amorim effect
— UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive) November 5, 2024
Minutes later, Sporting celebrated again. This time, the plaudits returned to Gyokeres when he converted a penalty from the spot to extend his side’s lead.
Sporting had scored two impressive efforts in three minutes, while Guardiola appeared to be shaking on the sidelines.
No one expected to see Gykores face City, I sold too
— FPL Reactions (Louis) (@FPLReaction) November 5, 2024
Gyokores is a beast of a striker, the strength, pace and work rate is insane.
Responsible for 0.73/0.76 athletic xG that first half while dominated.
Sheesh
— 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐢 +/- (@SznDonSimeone) November 5, 2024
Another reason why I say we should get Viktor Gyokeres signed next summer, he just scored a brace against City. https://t.co/2eBdo8Sq1N pic.twitter.com/2yi55TPKSD
— Big_TG (@iam_godspowr) November 5, 2024
City’s usually reliable Erling Haaland was presented with the chance to throw his team a lifeline when he rose to take a penalty from an accidental handball by Ousmane Diomande.
The composed and prolific forward crumbled under pressure from his European opponents, flicking the ball before it bounced off the crossbar.
Erling Haaland has missed EIGHT big chances in his last three appearances, more than any other player in Europe.
WASHING
pic.twitter.com/WXZdClU4Q0
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 5, 2024
Amorim knew that Haaland would be missed
pic.twitter.com/IRNYgL2QCz
— Footy Humor (@FootyHumour) November 5, 2024
Erling ‘Stay Humble’ Haaland misses a penalty. bless pic.twitter.com/Sj2jiXAVzo
— North Bank Nadim (@NorthBankNadim) November 5, 2024
Gyokeres scored his fourth and final goal of the game in the 80th minute, sending Guardiola and his team back into the cold reality of Manchester.
It was a successful night for Sporting and Amorim, who will no doubt have new confidence ahead of their move to Old Trafford on Monday.
Viktor Gyokeres has scored 53 goals in 2024
pic.twitter.com/dRWfRh0zHC
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 5, 2024
The most amazing thing about Sporting blowing City like this is that Man Utd’s squad of players have literally no excuses. The way of Amorim has destroyed them. You know who it goes to if it fails.
— Scott Saunders (@__scottsaunders) November 5, 2024
Viktor Gyokeres was 23 when Brighton let him go to Coventry for just £1m. He is now the most popular striker in Europe at the age of 26. Dan Ashworth was the Brighton sporting director who let him go, so it could be a fun conversation if Ruben Amorim mentions him.
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) November 5, 2024
In all competitions, Manchester United have the same amount of goals as Viktor Gyokeres this season.
— h (@htomufc) November 5, 2024
Look how focused these Sporting players are on feeding Gyokeres
Højlund will feel like he’s playing a different sport with Amorim…
— Cain Smith (@cainsmithMU) November 5, 2024
Ruben Amorim
He is our man.
pic.twitter.com/xlAwYUvDO3
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) November 5, 2024
Ruben Amorim’s Sporting came from behind to thrash Man City 4-1, because their players are ready to run and give absolutely everything on the pitch as if their lives depended on it.
The question now is, are the Man Utd players willing to do that for him?
Work hard, or LEAVE! pic.twitter.com/rmAIfhXPZS
— UF (@UtdFaithfuls) November 5, 2024
