In a surprising turn of events, Manchester City faced a 4-1 defeat against Sporting CP, with Viktor Gyokeres shining brightly while Erling Haaland endured a night to forget. Here are the player ratings from the match:
Goalkeeper & Defence
Ederson (6/10)
Made some initial saves but was ultimately overwhelmed by Sporting’s relentless attacks.
Rico Lewis (4/10)
Struggled defensively against Araújo, highlighting the absence of Kyle Walker.
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (4/10)
Had a tough debut, caught out by Gyokeres for the equalizer, though he did make a vital tackle later.
Manuel Akanji (4/10)
Was unable to contain Gyokeres, leading to significant defensive issues.
Josko Gvardiol (3/10)
Had a rough night, losing pace battles and conceding a penalty in frustration.
Midfield
Mateo Kovacic (4/10)
Overrun in midfield, struggled to make an impact as Sporting dominated.
Bernardo Silva (6/10)
Was active and looked dangerous in the first half, coming close to scoring.
Matheus Nunes (5/10)
Performed well initially but lost composure as Sporting gained momentum, leading to a penalty.
Attack
Phil Foden (7/10)
Was lively and effective in the first half, contributing to City’s early lead.
Erling Haaland (3/10)
A night to forget for the striker, who missed several key chances, including a penalty hit against the bar.
Savinho (5/10)
Showed promise in the first half but failed to track back defensively as Sporting pressed forward.
Substitutes & Manager
Ilkay Gundogan (5/10)
Did not have the desired influence after coming on.
Jeremy Doku (6/10)
Provided a slight spark in attack but lacked support from teammates.
Kevin De Bruyne (N/A)
Came back from injury but had little time to impact the game effectively.
Pep Guardiola (4/10)
Started well but failed to address Sporting’s resurgence. His substitutions were poorly timed and questionable in effectiveness, particularly with De Bruyne’s return.
This match highlighted the gaps in City’s defense and the need for a more cohesive team effort moving forward, especially as they adapt to the challenges posed by Ruben Amorim’s tactics.