Man City player ratings vs Sporting CP: Erling Haaland humiliated by hat-trick hero Viktor Gyokeres as Man Utd-bound Ruben Amorim fires Pep Guardiola warning of what’s to come in Champions League thrashing
The Norwegian striker wasted numerous chances in Lisbon, including a missed penalty, but his fellow Scandinavian showed no mercy
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Ruben Amorim won the hearts and minds of Manchester United fans a week before taking charge at Old Trafford as he masterminded an incredible 4-1 win over Manchester City in his final home game with Sporting CP before heading to England. Amorim’s coaching quality could be witnessed in the stupendous second goal his side scored on Tuesday, but this was also a night when Viktor Gyokeres demonstrated his striking prowess to the world, embarrassing Erling Haaland in the process.
An alert Phil Foden robbed the ball high up the pitch to fire City into a third-minute lead and the visitors could have put the game beyond doubt in the opening half an hour. Bernardo Silva went close and Haaland had three opportunities, shanking a volley off target and being thwarted by both goalkeeper Franco Israel and his nemesis Gyokeres, who cleared the Norwegian’s header off the line.
City paid for their wastefulness as Gyokeres made amends for missing an earlier sitter by equalising before the break. City were then blown apart by two incisive moves within moments of the second half starting, as Maximiliano Araújo completed a ridiculous team move and Gyokeres bagged a penalty.
City were given a spot-kick of their own for an accidental handball by Ousmane Diomande which was harsh on Sporting to say the least. Haaland, however, hit the bar and then Sporting won another penalty, allowing Gyokeres the chance to complete his treble. He duly took it.
GOAL rates Man City’s players from Estadio Jose Alvalade…
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Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
Ederson (6/10):
Stood his ground against Gyokeres at the first attempt but then left shell-shocked by Sporting’s flying attacks.
Rico Lewis (4/10):
Eaten alive by Araujo on a night when City missed Walker badly.
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (4/10):
A daunting occasion for the 19-year-old to make his full debut and so it proved. Destroyed by Gyokeres for the equaliser, though made an important tackle on the striker later.
Manuel Akanji (4/10):
Couldn’t cope with Gyokeres.
Josko Gvardiol (3/10):
Beaten for pace by Trincao and pushed him over in frustration, giving away the first penalty.
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Getty Images SportMidfield
Mateo Kovacic (4/10):
Kept getting overwhelmed.
Bernardo Silva (6/10):
Went close to scoring and was influential when City bossed the first half.
Matheus Nunes (5/10):
Decent in the first half but then lost his head amid Sporting’s intensity, giving the second penalty away.
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Getty Images SportAttack
Phil Foden (7/10):
Approaching his best form in the first half
Erling Haaland (3/10):
His dismal night was summed up when he crashed his penalty against the bar. Five shots, no goals
Savinho (5/10):
Probed a lot in the first half but didn’t track back when Sporting kept pouring forward.
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Getty Images SportSubs & Manager
Ilkay Gundogan (5/10):
Wasn’t the player needed at this moment.
Jeremy Doku (6/10):
Gave City a tiny bit of belief going forward.
Kevin De Bruyne (N/A):
A terrible occasion to make his comeback from injury.
Pep Guardiola (4/10):
A good start but clueless to halt Sporting’s resurgence. His changes came too late and the personnel made little sense, especially De Bruyne. A bad start to what should be a fascinating rivalry with Amorim.
