In a surprising twist in the Champions League, favourites Manchester City and Real Madrid suffered significant losses, shaking up the competition. Ruben Amorim, in his final game as coach for Sporting CP, led his team to a shocking 4-1 victory over Manchester City. In another surprising turn, AC Milan defeated Madrid 3-1. Meanwhile, Liverpool, touted as the third likely team to win the Championship, won 4-0 over Bayer Leverkusen.
Sporting’s triumph over Manchester City has led to increased speculation about Amorim’s prospective role at Manchester United. His farewell speech at Sporting was analogous to the expectations awaiting him at Manchester United and raised questions about his potential as the next Alex Ferguson. While some believe Manchester City’s dominance may be waning, others suggest its loss may be a one-off, considering Manchester City’s previous 5-0 aggregate win over Sporting two years ago.
Viktor Gyokeres stood out with his hat-trick that took his total to 25 goals in 18 matches. Reports suggest that Amorim might bring Gyokeres to Manchester United, triggering his €100 million release clause. This move, if realised, could pose a significant threat to other clubs with the anticipation of Gyokeres and Erling Haaland playing together.
Amid inconsistent performances, AC Milan remarkably took down Real Madrid 3-1 in Bernabeu. Milan, a mid-tier leader in Serie A, performed remarkably well, with stand-out performances by Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez. The trios’ brilliance resonated through Alvaro Morata’s comment, upholding Leao as “the best player on the team”.
Oasis legend Noel Gallagher’s commentary on the City-Sporting match on TNT Sports provided a fresh approach to football analysis. Known for his down-to-earth insights and ingenious statistics, Gallagher’s straightforward commentary was well-received. Manchester City suffered its third consecutive defeat despite a dominating possession. Their penalty miss and possible injuries have led to speculation about the club’s performance.
In contrast to Manchester City’s performance, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. performed remarkably, levelling for his team with a penalty. However, the team later fell apart and suffered its second Champions League defeat in four games. On the other hand, Liverpool flourished, maintaining a 100% record in the Champions League with a 4-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen.
