Sporting 4 Manchester City 1: Guardiola now winless in 3 after Amorim bids farewell to Sporting with statement result

Ruben Amorim's final home game as Sporting Lisbon head coach before becoming Manchester United manager when completely to plan after a Cityzen second half collapse allowed Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres to score a hat trick in a 4-1 demolition.

Before the game, the Sporting fans draped a banner saying Obrigado, or thank you, commemorating the Portuguese manager.

Manchester City had an interesting debut for the game, as defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was preferred over Dutch international Aké, who was the only experienced defender on the bench after John Stones’ injury against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.

Phil Foden kicked scored within 4 minutes with a fizzing shot which wrong footed the Sporting Keeper Franco Israel Wibmer. Manchester City were leading a game again after two games against Tottenham and Bournemouth in which they were not leading for any of either game.

The Man City pressure continued throughout the half, with a Haaland header getting cleared off the by fellow striker Gyökeres.

The Sporting striker then got his side level, breaking free of the city backline and calmly chipping over Ederson, who was a surprise starter after Guardiola suggested Ortega would start instead.

Within 30 seconds of the second half Sporting were behind, after Maximilian Araujo thundered in a finish, which squeezed itself under Ederson's leg.

The day just got even worse after Gvardiol tripped former Wolves winger Trincão, which Gyökeres thundered in with the littlest of fuss.

City got a lifeline after a contentious handball from Ousmane Diomande with 20 minutes left. However, normally reliable Haaland gave the supporters a rare collector’s item, smacking it straight off the crossbar.

Matheus Nunes then tugged over Geny Catamo for a third penalty of the second half. This allowed Gyökeres, who has been linked with a moved to City rivals Manchester United, to score a much-deserved hat trick.

It is now 3 games without a win for the first time in one season since April 2018, where a late Chris Smalling header for Manchester United is sandwiched between two comprehensive knockout games against Liverpool in the Champion’s League.

The result means City drop to sixth place, while Sporting climbs to second place, trailing leaders Liverpool by 2 points following their impressive 4-0 victory over Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen.