Champions: The amazing Gyökeres sinks City with a hat-trick

Viktor Gyökeres He punished Manchester City with three goals for Sporting’s surprising victory at the José Alvalade. The 26-year-old Swede took advantage of the team’s mistakes Pep Guardiola to increase his astonishing figure, which already reaches 27 goals in 21 official matches with his club and his national team. The third consecutive defeat for City, who had not conceded four goals in the Champions League since 2016. [Narración y estadísticas (4-1)]

The result should sting the fans even more citizen based on the dominance during the first half, where his team wasted great chances. 74% possession and nine corner kicks failed to knock down Sporting, who were even able to recover from an early 0-1 lead. A bite in the pressure was enough for Phil Foden snatch the ball from Morita and beat Israel with a low left foot. The English international’s eighth goal in his last 11 games in the Champions League.

A setback to Sporting’s morale, which in the previous game had clung to the memory of that victory against City in 2012. Also to the amazing finishing power of Gyökeres, whose first approach ended with a shot without substance against Ederson. Likewise, Erling Haaland He also did not find a goal in his four approaches. The first, in the open field, after an assist from Foden and the most difficult, a header at the far post taken under the goalposts. Israel, with a great reaction, saved the 0-2 when the Norwegian’s left-footed volley took the mark into the net. So much indulgence ended up penalizing the visitors.

The vertigo of Sporting

Shortly before the break, Geovany Quenda found a break from Gyökeres, whose power was unapproachable for Jahmai Simpson-Puseya 19-year-old center back debuting in the Champions League. What seemed like a simple accident was only the first volley of a storm.

Because upon returning from the locker room, the team Rubem Amorim drew up a perfect combination so that Pedro Gonçalves leave alone Maximiliano Araújowhose powerful shot passed between the goalkeeper’s legs. the wall sky blue It cracked again two minutes later, when If Guardiol stopped a cavalcade of Francisco Trincao with a resounding push. From 11 meters, Gyökeres gave Ederson no choice.

Without the ball, Sporting tried to distance the team as much as possible. Savinho y Bernardo Silva of its area of ​​influence. Until the Portuguese took advantage of a loose ball in the area to create a shot that would hit the arm of Ousmane Diomandé. The intervention of the VAR was decisive for Daniel Siebert penalty was declared. Haaland, with all the power of his left foot, smashed the ball against the crossbar. Guardiola wanted to give another air to his attack with Jeremy Doku y Kevin de Bruynebut another penalty Matheus Nunes on Catamo served for Gyökeres to close with his hat-trick a historic night for the Lions.

‘Hat trick’ by Luis Díaz

In the other stellar clash of the day, Liverpool endorsed a resounding 4-0 victory over Leverkusen, achieved after the break thanks to a hat trick from Luis Diaz. The return of Xabi Alonso to Anfield had generated so much expectation that not even Rafa Benitez he wanted to miss it. From one of the boxes, the coach witnessed the great visitor display, who during the first half never wavered before the magnitude of the stage. Not even compared to Liverpool’s good run, which had four wins and a draw against Arsenal in its last five games.

However, the reds they hardly bothered Lukas Hradecky with a direct free kick Trent Alexander-Arnold deflected by the barrier and a shot from Cody Steelrepelled with his chest by the Finnish goalkeeper. In fact, the visitor’s ambition could well have borne fruit in a cavalcade of Jeremie Frimpongwhose shot on goal was canceled due to a previous handball against Kostas Tsimikas.

However, the pause cleared Liverpool’s thoughts, lethal and precise since then. In the 63rd minute, an exquisite pass from Curtis Jones towards Díaz’s unchecking allowed the Colombian a wonderful touch to save the goalkeeper’s exit. In the next wave, the box Arne Slot doubled his lead after a cross from the right by Mo is wrong that Gakpo headed into the net. Although the linesman invalidated the action in the first instance, the VAR validated the 2-0 score.

Díaz, back in the eleven after being substituted against Brighton in the Premier, still had time to crush Leverkusen in the 83rd and 92nd minutes, with which Slot continued his formidable moment of form, with 14 victories in 16 games. The Premier League leader is also consolidating at the top of the Champions League, with plenty of wins after the first four rounds.