Here’s our Sporting Vs Manchester City preview, prediction, team news and predicted lineups ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League fixture in Lisbon.
Sporting Vs Manchester City Preview
Manchester City were blindsided on the south coast at the weekend, losing 2-1 at Bournemouth. What should have been a chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League ended with them falling to second behind Liverpool.
Antoine Semenyo’s ninth-minute opener put the Cherries in front before Evanilson doubled their advantage.
Josko Gvardiol pulled one back late on, but it wasn’t enough for City to avoid defeat.
The league loss followed defeat in the Carabao Cup, as Pep Guardiola’s men were knocked out by perennial bogey team Tottenham last Wednesday.
But while domestic competitions haven’t gone smoothly in recent weeks, City have been imperious in Europe. Aside from penalties, they are unbeaten in 26 Champions League games.
They put five past Sparta Prague and scored four at Slovan Bratislava, and are yet to concede this season after a 0-0 draw with Inter Milan.
But City will need to be on top form to overcome a Sporting side in phenomenal form.
The Portuguese outfit have won ten from ten in the league so far, conceding just three times.
Manager Ruben Amorim appears destined for Old Trafford, and will do his popularity on the red side of Manchester no harm by beating City this week.
Amorim is expected to be announced as United boss following the international break, so will be aiming to finish his time in Lisbon on a high in one of his last games at the club.
So far in Europe, Sporting have beaten Lille and Sturm Graz while drawing 1-1 with PSV.
A trip to Lisbon in the #UCL next 👊✈️ pic.twitter.com/qQeB5MNmlv
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 3, 2024
Sporting Vs Manchester City Team News
While heavily depleted at the weekend, City did see several players return to the match day squad at Bournemouth.
Kevin De Bruyne, Savinho, Jeremy Doku and Kyle Walker each made the squad, though Pep Guardiola is still missing some big names.
Ruben Dias and John Stones are out for at least the next few games. They join the more long-term injuries of Rodri (ACL), Oscar Bobb (leg) and Jack Grealish on the sidelines.
With Walker struggling on the South Coast, Rico Lewis may be called back into the starting lineup.
Sporting, meanwhile, are expected to miss only two players from their squad. Nuno Santos’ knee injury will keep him out until the new year, while defender Eduardo Quaresma (muscle) is also out.
Swedish striker Victor Gyokeres has been touted as possibly following his manager to Manchester United, but for now will lead the line for Sporting.
With 20 goals in 17 games so far this season, the former Coventry City forward has been in phenomenal form.
Sporting Vs Manchester City Predicted Lineups
Sporting Lineup (3-4-3):
Israel; Inacio, Diomande, Debast; Quenda, Braganca, Hjulmand, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres, Goncalves
Manchester City Lineup (4-3-3):
Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Silva, Kovacic, Gundogan; Doku, Haaland, Nunes
Sporting Vs Manchester City Prediction
There are plenty of storylines in this one. Haaland Vs Gyokeres, Amorim Vs his soon-to-be rivals.
But while the Portuguese side have been superb, a wounded Manchester City will be looking to right some recent wrongs.
It would be foolish to doubt Guardiola’s team, and for that reason we think they’ll bounce back with a narrow victory in Lisbon.
Prediction: Sporting 1-2 Manchester City
