(Football news) The visitors are also reeling at the moment, albeit from an off-field decision as opposed to on-field struggles, as they prepare to reluctantly sever ties with Manchester United-bound boss Ruben Amorim.
The Manchester City faithful ought to have arrived at the Vitality Stadium with a spring in their step on Saturday, as news filtered through that Arsenal had slipped up in the Premier League title race at Newcastle United, giving the champions the chance to move eight points clear of the Gunners.
However, Guardiola’s off-colour team would deservedly end the day off of their Premier League perch on account of a shock 2-1 loss to Bournemouth, where the ever-dangerous Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson registered before Josko Gvardiol’s consolation effort.
With Liverpool able to do what City could not and recovering from a deficit at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, Guardiola’s side find themselves two points adrift of the Merseyside titans in the runners-up spot in the top-flight table after their astonishing 32-game unbeaten run in England’s top flight crashed and burned.
City’s South Coast collapse came just a few days after their EFL Cup dreams were extinguished at the home of Tottenham Hotspur, but the 2022-23 Champions League winners have made a near-unblemished start to continental matters this term, putting four past Slovan Bratislava and five past Sparta Prague after their 0-0 with Inter Milan on matchday one.
Excluding penalty shootouts, the Citizens have gone a record 26 games without a normal time or extra-time defeat in the Champions League, but Amorim’s Sporting could hardly be facing the Premier League champions at a better time before their much-coveted manager begins his own Manchester adventure.
Answering the Old Trafford call after the delayed yet inevitable departure of Erik ten Hag, Amorim will be officially sworn in as Manchester United’s new head coach following the November international break, and victory on Tuesday would be the perfect way to endear himself to the Red Devils faithful.
Despite claims from Portugal that some of Sporting’s high-profile stars are upset with the 39-year-old’s decision, the Primeira Liga powerhouses have been going about their business regardless and welcome City to the Estadio Jose Alvalade on a sensational run of form.
Indeed, Sporting dismantled Estrela Amadora 5-1 on Friday to make it 10 wins from 10 games at the start of the 2024-25 Primeira Liga season – needless to say, they hold an unassailable lead at the top of the table – and their Champions League record is not half-bad either.
Amorim’s side share Manchester City’s record of seven points from their opening three games, beating Lille and Sturm Graz either side of a 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven to sit eighth in the 36-team table, five places behind Guardiola’s side on account of their inferior goal difference.
Now bidding to equal their longest-ever unbeaten run in the Champions League/European Cup—going four without defeat in the early 1980s—Sporting reunite with Manchester City on the back of their 2021-22 last-16 battle, where Amorim’s team were embarrassed 5-0 at home before restoring some pride with a second-leg goalless draw at the Etihad.
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