Actual Madrid, Manchester Metropolis humiliated in Champions League; Liverpool enjoys Alonso’s return

Ruben Amorim, head coach of Sporting CP, is thrown into the air by his gamers to have a good time his final residence match as supervisor after defeating Manchester Metropolis within the UEFA Champions League on November 5, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal.
| Picture Credit score: Getty Photos

European heavyweights Actual Madrid and Manchester Metropolis each suffered large defeats within the Champions League on Tuesday.

Defending champion Madrid was humbled 3-1 at residence by AC Milan, whereas Erling Haaland missed a penalty and Metropolis squandered a fourth-minute lead because it misplaced 4-1 at Sporting Lisbon, whose coach will quickly take cost of its crosstown rival.

It was a significantly better night for Liverpool, as Luis Diaz scored a hat trick and Cody Gakpo grabbed one other aim in a 4-0 win over German champion Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield that marred Xabi Alonso’s return to his previous residence.

The Leverkusen coach was given a heat welcome on his return to the membership the place he turned a fan favourite as a participant over 5 seasons between 2004-09. Alonso received the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.

Liverpool moved prime of the league section desk with 4 wins from 4 video games, adopted by Sporting and Monaco, each on 10 factors after three wins and a draw. Beneath the brand new 36-team format launched by UEFA this season, the highest eight groups advance on to the subsequent spherical, and people from ninth to twenty fourth enter playoffs to achieve it, whereas the underside 12 are eradicated.

Amorim will get emotional farewell

Earlier than their recreation, Sporting followers displayed an enormous tifo thanking Rúben Amorim in his final residence recreation earlier than he takes over Manchester United.

Phil Foden then received Metropolis off to a flying begin within the fourth minute, solely the second aim Sporting has conceded in 4 video games of the competitors.

However Swedish ahead Viktor Gyökeres scored a hat trick as Sporting got here roaring again. Gyökeres first equalized within the thirty eighth after an ideal by way of ball from Geovany Quenda, earlier than Maximiliano Araújo made it 2-1 proper after the break. Gyökeres then made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after Joško Gvardiol was penalized for a shove on Francisco Trincão within the space.

Haaland’s penalty hit the crossbar, earlier than Gyökeres confirmed the Norwegian the way it’s accomplished with one other spot kick on the different finish to finish the scoring.

It’s the first time since 2018 that Metropolis has misplaced three straight video games, coming off a defeat to Tottenham within the English League Cup and a loss to Bournemouth within the Premier League.

“In my seven and a half years on the membership, I do not keep in mind dropping three video games in a row,” Metropolis midfielder Bernardo Silva mentioned.

Madrid loses to Milan

In Spain, Christian Pulisic despatched in a nook for Malick Thiaw to move Milan right into a Twelfth-minute lead, making certain Madrid trailed in a 3rd straight recreation within the Champions League this season. The 15-time champion had already misplaced to shock workforce Lille of their second recreation.

Vinícius Júnior equalized from the penalty spot within the twenty third after he’d been tripped, however Álvaro Morata pounced on the rebound after Andriy Lunin saved Rafael Leão’s shot to revive the guests’ lead in opposition to his former membership.

Morata had already been given a hostile reception from the house followers, who evidently keep in mind the aim he scored to take Juventus by way of to the 2015 remaining at their workforce’s expense.

Tijjani Reijnders scored Milan’s third aim as the house followers made their frustrations identified at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

“The final two defeats are inexplicable. Now we have to research and react shortly,” Lunin mentioned, referring to Madrid’s 4-0 loss to Barcelona in its earlier Spanish league recreation.

It is the primary time since 2009 that Madrid has misplaced two successive video games at residence with at the very least three objectives conceded in every, based on Opta.

“Now we have to get again on monitor,” Lunin mentioned.

German ahead Nicolas Kühn scored twice as Celtic defeated Leipzig 3-1 at residence, and Juventus drew 1-1 at Lille.

Lille midfielder Edon Zhegrova eluded two defenders earlier than enjoying an ideal go for Jonathan David, who fired contained in the far put up, however Dušan Vlahović equalized with a penalty for the Italian membership.

Donyell Malen scored late for Borussia Dortmund to beat Sturm Graz 1-0 at residence, and Thilo Kehrer did likewise for Monaco to win at Bologna 1-0.

United States midfielder Malik Tillman scored one aim and arrange one other as PSV Eindhoven beat Spanish workforce Girona 4-0.

Dinamo Zagreb dealt Slovan Bratislava its fourth straight defeat within the competitors because the guests got here from behind to win 4-1 in Bratislava.