Sporting CP, led by manager Ruben Amorim, who confirmed Manchester City’s appointment, caused a catastrophe to catch the “giant” Manchester City.
Sporting won 3-1 against Manchester City in the fourth home game of the 2024-2025 European Champions League (UCL) League phase at Estadio José Albarade in Lisbon, Portugal on the 6th (Korea time).
Sporting, one of the most popular European teams in this season, has secured three wins and one draw (10 points) in four consecutive matches. The team came in second after Liverpool, which swept all four games in a row. In contrast, Manchester City slid to sixth place after suffering a humiliating loss to Sporting, which was below the level of power in just four games. It suffered three consecutive defeats in a week following matches between Tottenham Hotspur (EFL Cup, 1-2 losses) and Bournemouth (EPL, 1-2 losses).
All the attention of the game was on Sporting and Amorim. Amorim, a young head coach in his 30s from Portugal, was appointed as the replacement of Erik ten Hach, who was dismissed last month due to poor performance. With his official entry scheduled from Old Trafford on the 11th, the game took on the character of a “preview Manchester derby.” I watched not only Manchester fans but also all over Europe to see how Amorim will play in the strategic match against Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, a “tactical genius.”
“If you beat Manchester City, you may think a new (Alex) Ferguson has emerged,” said manager Amorim, who boldly summoned “Manchester United legend” Fergie-kyung at a pre-press conference, drawing results that Manchester United fans would cheer about.
Sporting put “main gun” Jockeres on top in a 3-4-2-1 formation and built a second line of attack with Pedro Goncalves and Francisco Trincão. Geobani Quenda, Morita Hidemasa, Morten Yulman and Maximiliano Araujo formed the midfield. Geno Devast, Usman Diomande and Matheus Hayes played three backs, while Franco Israel defended the goal.
In response, Manchester City put Erling Holan at the forefront and formed a midfield of Savinho, Phil Foden, Bernardou Silva, Matteus Núñez and Matteo Kovacic. They set up four backs with Rico Lewis, Jamay Simpson-Push, Manuel Akanji and Josko Gvardiolo. Ederson defended the goal.
Manchester City took the lead by scoring the first goal in the fourth minute of the first half. Foden, who blocked the build-up from the opponent’s side, opened the goal with a left-footed shot himself.
However, Sporting brought the game back to square one in the 37th minute of the first half. After receiving a superb penetration pass, Joquez immediately ran into the box and scored an equalizer to avoid the running goalkeeper.
Sporting even scored an upset goal in the first minute of the second half. Sporting, who completely peeled off the opponent’s left side, quickly penetrated into the back space of the opponent’s defense and calmly opened the goal with a left-footed shot.
Sporting, who got a penalty in the fourth minute of the second half, calmly kicked the ball into the right corner of the goal and widened the gap by two goals.
Guardiola tried to make changes by putting Jeremy Doku and Ilkay Gündogan, but failed to regain the lead that had already been passed. In the 24th minute of the second half, he was penalized for an opponent’s handball foul, but Holan’s ball hit the crossbar.
In the 36th minute of the second half, he dedicated his fourth goal to Sporting. Joquez scored a hat trick with a penalty. Sporting’s surprise victory ended the game with a 4-1 victory. 메이저놀이터
