Sporting CP take on Manchester City in the Champions League tonight with manager Ruben Amorim getting a taste of what it will be like to go up against Pep Guardiola before joining Manchester United later this month.
Amorim was confirmed as United’s new boss last week but will not make the move to Old Trafford until November 11 meaning he has two more games in charge of Sporting. The Portuguese side have won two and drawn one of their three Champions League matches so far putting them eighth in the table level on points with City.
Guardiola’s men are third due to their superior goal difference but will be hoping to remain inside the automatic qualifying spots by collecting three points tonight. The Premier League champions suffered a shock defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend and will want to bounce back despite facing Sporting away from home.
Follow all the action from the Champions League with our live blog below:
Sporting host Manchester City in the Champions League, live on TNT Sports
5’ GOAL! Foden gives City an early lead after sloppy play from Morita [SPO 0-1 MCI]
8’ CHANCE! Gyokeres chips straight to Ederson when clean through [SPO 0-1 MCI]
Ruben Amorim faces Pep Guardiola in one of final games as Sporting boss
City unbeaten in Champions League but hope to bounce back from Bournemouth defeat
Sporting XI: Israel; Debast, Diomande, Matheus Reis; Quenda, Hjulmand, Mortia, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres, Goncalves
City XI: Ederson, Lewis, Simpson-Pusey, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Silva, Savinho, Foden, Nunes, Haaland.
Sporting Clube de Portugal 0 – 1 Manchester City FC
20:13 , Chris Wilson
11 mins
Lovely play from Savinho to kill the ball with a beautiful touch near the byline, but he can’t get the cross away. He does win a corner though.
Foden swings it in, but it flies past every blue shirt in the box.
20:11 , Chris Wilson
8 mins
CLOSE! He HAS to do better there.
City lose the ball near halfway and Gyokeres finds himself clean through on goal. He surges towards the box but it caught in two minds, eventually choosing to try and chip Ederson, but it’s straight into the hands of the Brazilian!
20:09 , Chris Wilson
7 mins
City are well up for this one, with another effort put behind for a corner after a lovely touch from Foden. They’ve had around 79 per cent possession so far.
20:07 , Chris Wilson
5 mins
GOAL! The away side are ahead already!
Sloppy stuff from Sporting as Morita is easily dispossessed near his area. City play it forward quickly, and it’s simple for Foden as he drives into the box and fires a low effort past Israel!
20:06 , Chris Wilson
4 mins
City win a corner after Diomande does well to take it the cross off the head of Haaland, and Israel collects the corner when it coms in.
20:05 , Chris Wilson
3 mins
City ar dominating the ball early on, as you’d expect. Sporting try and launch it forward to Gyokeres, but he’s too isolated.
20:03 , Chris Wilson
1 min
City win an early corner but it’s cleared away. There’s plenty of noise around the Alvalade here – Sporting fans unfurled a large banner thanking Amorim as the competition anthem played.
20:02 , Chris Wilson
There is a brief moment of silence in respect for the flood victims in Valencia, and the two teams are ready after the referee blows his whistle.
The away side get us underway in the Portuguese capital.
19:56 , Chris Wilson
The two sides are emerging from the tunnel at the Alvalade, so we’re moments away from kick-off.
19:50 , Chris Wilson
19:45 , Chris Wilson
Manchester City have lost just one of their 10 major European matches against Portuguese opposition (winning six and drawing three). In those 10 games, City have kept six clean sheets, including one in each of their last three.
Manchester City have only lost one of their previous five away trips to face Portuguese opponents in European competition (won two and drew two), and are unbeaten there in UEFA Champions League matches: 0-0 v FC Porto in December 2020 and 5-0 v Sporting CP in February 2022.
In their win over Sparta Prague last time out, City set a new record for unbeaten games in the history of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, going 26 without defeat (W18 D8). The last team to beat them in the competition (in 90 minutes) were Real Madrid back in May 2022 (3-1).
Erling Haaland has been directly involved in 49 goals in 42 appearances in the UEFA Champions League (44 goals, five assists). If he scores or assists here, the Norwegian will become the fastest player to 50 combined goals and assists in the competition’s history (43), overtaking Ruud van Nistelrooy for fewest appearances to do so (45).
19:40 , Chris Wilson
Future Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim will take on Manchester City on match week four of the Champions League.
Elsewhere, former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is poised to return to Anfield, while Aston Villa will attempt to retain top spot in the table.
Below, the PA news agency picks out some of the main talking points ahead of the 18 midweek matches.
Can Ruben Amorim get one over on Man City? – Champions League talking points
19:35 , Chris Wilson
Sporting CP won their first European meeting with Man City in March 2012 in the UEFA Europa League, but are winless in their last three against them (drawn one, lost two).
After losing each of their first five matches against English sides in the UEFA Champions League, Sporting CP have gone unbeaten in each of the last three (won one, drew two). They won their last home match in the competition against an English opponent, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in September 2022.
The Portuguese side are unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League this season, winning twice and drawing one. If they can avoid defeat here, they will equal their longest ever unbeaten run in the European Cup/Champions League (four games between September 1982-March 1983).
Viktor Gyökeres has been directly involved in 10 goals in 12 appearances for Sporting CP in European competition (seven goals, three assists), while scoring in all four of his European starts at the Estádio José Alvalade (four goals).
17-year-old Geovany Quenda has featured in all three of Sporting CP’s games in the UEFA Champions League this season. The only Portuguese player to make more appearances while aged under-18 in a single season in the competition is Rúben Neves, who played five times for FC Porto in 2014-15 (also aged 17).
19:30 , Chris Wilson
With just half an hour until kick-off, here is a reminder on how you can watch tonight’s match:
When is Sporting vs Manchester City?
Sporting vs Manchester City is due to kick off at 8pm GMT on Tuesday 5 November at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage on the channel from 7pm GMT. Subscribers can stream the action via discovery+.
19:20 , Chris Wilson
In his pre-match press conference, Pep Guardiola stated that City “have to accept we are going to struggle and it is fine”.
“Every game will be more difficult than when everything was smooth. We won six Premier Leagues in seven years and situations change.
“It’s the reality. The middle class in the Premier League rise unbelievably. The top-class teams were always there – add Newcastle and Tottenham, but after you see Fulham, Brentford, most of the teams.
“I know our standards. We lost one game in the Premier League. Maybe we will lose against Brighton and Tottenham[next two league fixtures], but we lost one game and we are two points behind a top-class team in Liverpool.
“I know people expect us to win 38 games 5-0 and the Treble every season because this is our standards – but this will not happen.”
On Amorim’s Sporting CP side, he added: “The pattern is clear. Movements in behind are so dangerous – the pace and the control. Good inside, good switch of players and movement. Winning the Portuguese leagues after 20 years and then doing it again shows how good the job he has done here.”
19:15 , Chris Wilson
These sides have actually met four times previously, with two meetings coming in the Europa League and another two in the Champions League.
They first met in Uefa’s secondary competition in the 2011/12 season, with Sporting advancing on away goals after they won 1-0 at home and then lost 3-2 at the Etihad – Sergio Aguero scored two that night, with Balotelli netting the other goal.
It would be another decade before the two sides met again, and fortunes had changed dramatically by then, as City won 5-0 on aggregate in the 2021/22 Champions League season.
19:10 , Chris Wilson
The incoming Manchester United manager is just 39 years old, and has been managing since taking over third division side Casa Pia in 2018.
Before stepping into management, the Lisbon-born midfielder had a playing career than spanned 13 years and included stints at SL Benfica and SC Braga. The 39-year-old also won several caps for his country before his retirement in 2015.
In the 2012/13 Champions League campaign, he featured in midfield alongside incoming City director Hugo Viana as Braga lost 3-2 at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s time at Casa Pia came to an end after he resigned from the club following a six-point deduction related to an incident in which he gave instructions despite not having the required coaching badges. From there he moved to Braga’s reserve sides, and within a few months was at the helm of the club after they dismissed their manager.
In his time at Braga, Amorim won the league cup, but by March 2020 he had moved to Sporting, again mid-season, after the club paid Braga around €10m to release him from his contract.
In his first full season with Sporting – 2020/21 – he won the club’s first league title in 18 years, as well as the league cup. In the two seasons after this, their only real success was another league cup win – as well as qualification for the round of 16 in the Champions League for the first time since 2008/09 – but more league success came last season, with his second league title.
This season, Sporting have won all 10 of their matches in the league, and have won one and drawn one in the Champions League.
19:05 , Chris Wilson
Ruben Amorim is the next manager of Manchester United, with the 39-year-old set to finally take the next step in his coaching career after being linked with some of the biggest jobs in Europe as a result of his impressive work at Sporting Lisbon.
The Portuguese is in line to replace Erik ten Hag with United signalling their intent to pay Sporting over his release fee. United’s football operations department placed Amorim at the top of their list and have convinced the 39-year-old to leave Sporting mid-season.
United will appoint a manager who has been one of the most in-demand coaches in Europe over the last year.
Who is Ruben Amorim? Why Man Utd decided they had to have Sporting manager
18:58 , Chris Wilson
Pep Guardiola has made three changes to the side that lost to Bournemouth last weekend.
In defence, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey makes his first senior start as he comes in for Nathan Ake, while Rico Lewis replaces Kyle Walker. In midfield, Ilkay Gündoğan is replaced by Savinho, who has returned from injury.
18:53 , Chris Wilson
Sporting XI: Israel; Debast, Diomande, Matheus Reis; Quenda, Hjulmand, Morita, Maxi Araújo, Trincão, Goncalves, Gyökeres.
Subs: Kovacevic, D. Pinto, St. Juste, Edwards, Harder, Geny, Fresneda, Bragança, Esgaio, J. Simões e Quaresma.
18:47 , Chris Wilson
City XI: Ederson, Lewis, Simpson-Pusey, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Silva, Savinho, Foden, Nunes, Haaland.
Subs: Ortega, Carson, Walker, Ake, Doku, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Wright, O’Reilly, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand
Your City line-up in Lisbon! 🩵
XI | Ederson, Lewis, Simpson-Pusey, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Bernardo (C), Savinho, Foden, Nunes, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Walker, Ake, Doku, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Wright, O’Reilly, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand#ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/vuuzxNkMe3
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 5, 2024
18:40 , Chris Wilson
Here’s a reminder of the early team news – line-ups are expected to be announced in five minutes!
Pep Guardiola was boosted by the availability of Jeremy Doku, Kyle Walker, Savinho and Kevin de Bruyne against Bournemouth, although the latter pair were unused off the bench. Manchester City’s treatment room remains busy, though, with Ruben Dias and John Stones their latest injury concerns.
18:35 , Chris Wilson
Here’s a reminder of tonight’s fixtures in matchday four of the new Champions League.
18:25 , Chris Wilson
With three gameweeks played in the new league phase format of the Champions League, it’s English teams who are topping the table at the moment.
Aston Villa and Liverpool are the only sidea to have won all three matches so far, and they sit top on nine points, with Villa ahead on goal difference.
Man City sit third, also on goal difference, with seven points – there are another six teams on 7 points, stretching down to Arsenal in ninth. Teams on seven points including Sporting, Bayer Leverkusen and Inter Milan.
Barcelona and Real Madrid sit 10th and 12th respectively, both on six points, with Borussia Dortmund sandwiched between the two Spanish giants.
Among the other teams between ninth and 24th – who will go in to a play-off to advance to the next round – are Juventus (14th), Bayern (23rd), PSG (19th) and Celtic (20th).
18:15 , Chris Wilson
A recap of City’s last result…
Manchester City’s 32-game unbeaten run in the Premier League was ended by Bournemouth who gave a superb display to beat the champions 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium.
Not since losing to Aston Villa on December 6 last year had City lost in the league, but from the first moments on the south coast Andoni Iraola’s side looked a match for them, their energy and industry rewarded by goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson.
It looked at times like Bournemouth would run away from City. Marcus Tavernier struck a post at 2-0 to leave Pep Guardiola’s side clinging on by their fingertips, before Josko Gvardiol set up a nervous finish when he headed in Ilkay Gundogan’s cross.
Bournemouth end Manchester City’s 32-game unbeaten run in Premier League
18:05 , Chris Wilson
Pep Guardiola has dismissed fears top scorer Erling Haaland has suffered an injury scare ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon.
The prolific Norwegian striker was filmed clutching his shin after going down in apparent pain during a training session open to members of the media on Monday.
Yet manager Guardiola confirmed the 24-year-old is fit and well after the squad arrived in the Portuguese capital later that evening.
Pep Guardiola dismisses Erling Haaland injury scare: ‘We have to make the news’
17:55 , Chris Wilson
Incoming Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will ignore comparisons with Sir Alex Ferguson if he steers his Sporting Lisbon side to victory over Manchester City.
The Portuguese, who was named as Erik ten Hag’s successor last week, will take charge of his final Sporting home game as City visit the Jose Alvalade Stadium in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old accepts expectations will be high when he takes over at Old Trafford later this month, and he recognises that could increase if Sporting overcome City.
“I don’t think about that,” said Amorim at a press conference.
“My focus is on winning the match for Sporting. The conclusions are not important for me because they could be erroneous. If we win tomorrow they will think the new Alex Ferguson has arrived.”
Ruben Amorim: ‘Man Utd will think I am new Sir Alex Ferguson if we beat Man City’
17:45 , Chris Wilson
The Ruben Amorim derby is not the Ruben Amorim derby at all. The Sporting manager is bound for Manchester, but not to take charge of Tuesday’s opponents. But his penultimate game in charge of the Portuguese champions will be the Hugo Viana derby. Manchester City’s next sporting director will come from Sporting, just as Manchester United’s next manager will.
All of which prompted the idea that Amorim would be Pep Guardiola’s successor. Not so, and not merely because Amorim’s destination instead is Manchester United. As City wait to see if Guardiola will want to extend his contract, there may be no frontrunner, because there is no date yet for when there will be a vacancy.
But part of the same rationale was applied by both Manchester clubs. Sporting had not won the Portuguese league for almost two decades. They have now done so twice in four seasons, while improving players, signing well and selling at huge profits. City clearly feel Viana is responsible for a success story; United credit Amorim. For manager and sporting director alike, a move to Manchester comes with a shift in status, to a destination club. City have become excellent sellers under their departing director of football Txiki Begiristain, but from a position at the top of the footballing food chain.
Hugo Viana, Man City’s incoming sporting director, faces one major task
17:35 , Chris Wilson
Sporting XI: Israel; Inacio, Diomande, Debast; Quenda, Braganca, Hjulmand, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres, Goncalves.
Manchester City XI: Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Gundogan; Foden, Silva, Kovacic, Doku; Haaland.
17:30 , Chris Wilson
Sporting’s Nuno Santos is expected to miss the rest of the year with a knee issue, while Eduardo Quaresma is also sidelined.
Pep Guardiola was boosted by the availability of Jeremy Doku, Kyle Walker, Savinho and Kevin de Bruyne against Bournemouth, although the latter pair were unused off the bench. Manchester City’s treatment room remains busy, though, with Ruben Dias and John Stones their latest injury concerns.
17:20 , Chris Wilson
When is Sporting vs Manchester City?
Sporting vs Manchester City is due to kick off at 8pm GMT on Tuesday 5 November at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage on the channel from 7pm GMT. Subscribers can stream the action via discovery+.
17:10 , Chris Wilson
Manchester City continue their Champions League campaign with a trip to Lisbon and an encounter with Sporting CP.
Plenty of eyes will be on the touchline and Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, who is preparing to take charge at Manchester United after the international break.
The Portuguese club are level on points with their visitors after two wins and a draw from their first three games in the revamped competition format.
But they face a stiff challenge against a Manchester City side looking to bounce back from a weekend Premier League defeat to Bournemouth.
17:00 , Chris Wilson
Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of tonight’s Champions League league phase match between Sporting CP and Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side are well on track to qualify in the top eight and make it straight through to the knockout rounds, having won two and drawn one of their opening three matches.
The Portuguese champions also sit on seven points in the league table, having beaten Sturm Graz last time out, and of tonight’s match has the added intrigue of pitting incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim against Pep Guardiola for the first time.
We’ll have all the latest news, updates and build-up right here.
