Sporting CP vs Manchester City Review
Sporting CP handed Manchester City their third straight defeat across all competitions, winning 4-1 at home in the UEFA Champions League. This victory allowed Sporting to continue their unbeaten run in the UCL with 3 wins and 1 draw. The match started well for the visitors, with Phil Foden scoring in his third consecutive UCL match just four minutes in, stealing the ball from Hidemasa Morita and shooting past Franco Israel. Shortly after, Viktor Gyökeres missed a significant opportunity, trying to chip Ederson but instead making it an easy save for the goalkeeper. Erling Haaland almost capitalized on this mistake right away, but his curling shot was deflected by Israel.
In the first half, Haaland had four chances to score, including a missed opportunity from a good position and a header that was cleared off the line by Gyökeres. Haaland’s side-footed volley was saved by the Israeli goalkeeper, but Gyökeres managed to equalize just before halftime. He shrugged off Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on his full City debut and skillfully struck the ball into the ground, getting it past Ederson for his ninth goal in five matches with Sporting.
This equalizer energized the home team, and just 20 seconds into the second half, Pedro Gonçalves delivered a brilliant pass to Maximiliano Araújo, who shot through Ederson’s legs to take the lead. Moments later, Sporting was in a fantastic position when Joško Gvardiol fouled Francisco Trincão in the penalty area, allowing Gyökeres to convert the penalty into the bottom corner, outsmarting Ederson.
City received a chance to get back into the game midway through the first half when they were awarded a penalty due to a handball by Ousmane Diomande. However, Haaland’s attempt from the spot hit the crossbar. Gyökeres nearly capitalized on this miss as he attempted to get past Ederson, but the Brazilian goalkeeper thwarted him. Moments later, Gyökeres had another opportunity to secure his hat-trick when substitute Geny Catamo was fouled by Matheus Nunes in the penalty area. Gyökeres took the penalty and successfully converted it into the opposite corner.
Sporting’s impressive start to the season continues, as they have now won 13 out of their 14 matches in the UCL and league combined. Meanwhile, City conceded four goals in the UCL for the first time since 2016, ending their unbeaten away streak in the competition that had lasted since May 2022.
