Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick as Sporting Lisbon defeated Manchester City 4-1 in a Champions League match played on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon.
Phil Foden opened the scoring for Manchester City in the 4th minute, but Sporting responded through Gyokeres in the 38th minute to level the score. Maximiliano Araujo then set Sporting ahead just before halftime, scoring in the 46th minute. Gyokeres extended Sporting’s lead with a penalty in the 49th minute and added another goal in the 80th minute, also from the penalty spot. Pedro Goncalves scored in the 55th minute, and Morten Hjulmand added a goal in the 88th minute to complete the rout.
The result marked a significant upset, with data analysis prior to the match suggesting a 48.32% probability of a Sporting Lisbon win. Manchester City had previously suffered consecutive defeats against Tottenham and Bournemouth, raising questions about their recent form.
The match took place with Ruben Amorim, who is set to become the next manager of Manchester United later this month, at the helm of Sporting Lisbon. The victory was seen as a strong send-off for Amorim and a demonstration of his capabilities, potentially influencing Manchester United’s decision. Sky Sports reported that Amorim made “the perfect impression on Man Utd fans by beating their local rivals.”
Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s star striker, missed a penalty during the match. The attendance at the Estádio José Alvalade was 47,453.
Following the match, Pep Guardiola rejected Bernardo Silva’s assessment of the loss, according to reports. The defeat was Manchester City’s third consecutive loss across all competitions.
The win for Sporting Lisbon places them in a strong position in the Champions League group stage. The next round of 16 will see the winner of the group face either Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City.
