Sporting CP vs Man City predicted lineups and team news
Outgoing Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim will be heading for England next week as Manchester United‘s new manager, and he would delight his new fanbase at Old Trafford if he can sign off in Portugal by masterminding the downfall of rivals Manchester City in the Champions League.
Sporting CP vs Man City predicted lineups
Sporting CP (3-4-3): Israel; Debast, Diomande, Inacio; Quenda, Hjulmand, Braganca, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres, Pote
Man City (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Gvardiol, Ake; Bernardo Silva, Kovacic, Gundogan; Foden, Haaland, Nunes
Both Sporting and City are in the top eight in the new-look league stage with seven points from three matches and they should lay on a decent match, which kicks off at the Estadio Jose Alvalade at 8pm and is being broadcast live on TNT Sports 1.
Will Amorim’s exit or Man City’s injuries determine Lisbon outcome?
A lot has changed since the draw for the Champions League group stage threw up an eye-catching matchday four shootout between Portuguese champions Sporting CP and English champions Man City.
First, Amorim, the man who guided Sporting to glory last season and a fantastic start to 2024-25, has decided to become Man United’s new head coach, a job he starts next week.
And second, the Citizens have been ravaged by an injury crisis which has seen them lose back-to-back matches for the first time in over 13 months.
Clearly Man City will travel to Portugal short-handed and smarting from 2-1 defeats at Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Sporting will have Amorim in charge for the penultimate time and Friday night’s 5-1 thrashing of Estrela da Amadora in the Primeira Liga suggests his current squad haven’t downed tools just because he is leaving.
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They have won 14 of 15 matches this season since losing the Super Cup to Porto and will see this is an opportunity to beat a depleted Man City.
Both clubs are on seven points after three rounds of games. Sporting have had 2-0 wins over Lille and Sturm Graz either side of a 1-1 draw at PSV.
Man City followed a 0-0 draw against Inter Milan with thumpings of Slovan Bratislava (4-0) and Sparta Prague (5-0).
Sporting CP vs Man City team news
Nuno Santos, who plays the left wing-back role in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up, is out for the season with a knee injury sustained two weeks ago.
Also missing for Sporting is right-sided centre-back Eduardo Quaresma, who has been out for a month with an ankle injury. Zeno Debast has replaced Quaresma, while Maxi Araujo should be the straight swap for Santos.
Leading Sporting’s line will be Sweden international Viktor Gyokeres, the hottest shot in western Europe at the moment with 20 goals this season, including six in his last two matches.
Pep Guardiola has never been constrained in formation terms, but he is limited by some big-name absentees, among them Ruben Dias, Rodri and Jack Grealish.
Nathan Ake is a doubt though Kevin De Bruyne and Savinho could be involved despite not being 100% fit.
