Sporting CP 4-1 Manchester City Review

Champions League - League Phase GW4

With three losses in a row, the team is certainly going through a bad patch of form, and there are signs from the wins prior that it was coming. But had they taken their chances in a dominant first-half display, we’d be looking at the scoreline reversed, if not higher. Poorly defended transitions, soft defending of their box, and well-timed goals from Sporting were Manchester City's undoing.

Notable Stats:

• Rico Lewis (130) has completed more final third passes than any other player in the Champions League this season.

• Only Vinicius Junior (37) has more touches in the opposition box than Savinho (36).

• Viktor Gyokeres (5) is now the joint top scorer of the Champions League, along with Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha.

Game Stats:

Sporting CP 4 - 1 Man City

• xG: 2.96 - 2.22

• xThreat: 0.38 - 1.46

• Possession: 27.8% - 72.2%

• Field Tilt: 8.5% - 91.5%

• Penalty Box Shots: 8 - 13

• Deep Entries: 7 - 21

• PPDA: 18.0 - 6.2

• High Turnovers: 0 - 8

If you want to stay up to date with individual player minutes, the back four combinations used, and plenty of other stats, check out the live Google sheet linked below. 👇

The team that started was for the most part expected. If Savinho was ready, he’s going to return. Without Nathan Ake fit and sharp, as seen against Bournemouth, it was a great opportunity for Jahmai Simpson-Pusey to start. Making his full debut for Manchester City after coming on against Spurs last week. Playing at RCB against Sporting, he’s comfortable with both feet and was at LCB against Spurs.

Phil Foden was central, Bernardo Silva dropped next to Kovacic when needed, and Rico Lewis was inverting high in midfield for his usual role in the 3-1-6 setup. Bernardo Silva was deeper in the press next to Kovacic initially.

1-0 Foden (4') 

Forgotten in the result will be how well Manchester City did in the first half to force turnovers. Catching Sporting often when they tried to play out from the back, whether it was forward passes or some times passing square across the back line. Man City had 8 high turnovers (1 leading to a shot) compared to 0 that Sporting had. This was the one leading to a shot, Phil Foden winning the ball, driving towards the goal, and finishing into the far corner.

There were plenty of other opportunities for Manchester City to capitalize on in the match but they failed to do so. Outside of when they pressed Sporting, there were so many times that possession was lost from them in dangerous positions from poor passes and touches.

1-1 Gyokeres (38') 

Whilst Guardiola can coach a press as seen by the number of opportunities they had after forcing high turnovers, you can get at Manchester City if you move around their midfielders. Sporting draws Bernardo Silva in high up the pitch which leaves the space to play over the press. Leaving Kovacic to defend a large space by himself.

Sporting go over the top and their inside forward is not tracked by Mateo Kovacic as he moves out wide to support a 2v1 against Gvardiol. Akanji does not commit to helping Gvardiol or stick tighter to Gyokeres. The wing-back moves inside to play the pass-through to Gyokeres to eventually score. Simpson-Pusey gets back to apply some pressure but not enough.

Despite the chances they created, the shots Haaland had, and the nine shots inside the box the team had, the opportunities in the first half were wasted and Sporting went to half-time level. There were opportunities in transition for them in the first half outside of the goal, one of which just came down to a poor pass by Savinho to Rico Lewis meant he was pressed, and Sporting won the ball, playing Gyokeres through.

2-1 Araujo (46') 

From the kickoff for the second half, Sporting played it back and City pushed up to press. Keep an eye on Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic. Savinho jumps to press the LCB, Haaland is on their CCB, and Nunes/Foden is behind the two midfielders. Bernardo is sat deeper, and Kovacic does not push up tight to the inside forward, leaving the pass to him between the lines. Rico Lewis cannot jump up to the inside forward without leaving the wing-back free. Kovacic does not engage until he's dragged to the sideline.

He's beaten out wide, and Sporting drives at the City backline. Araujo continues his run into the middle towards the box, with Lewis unable to keep up with him. Kovacic was unable to get back quick enough, either. A smart run from Gyokeres to their left side pulls Akanji over with him to open up the middle of the pitch. Bernardo does not engage either. Pass is played into that space for Araujo to receive and finish.

Sporting gets a penalty shortly after the goal (49’) which Gyokeres scores. A complete shift in the game state, momentum, and approach now for both teams in the match. It was a poor decision for Gvardiol to make that challenge with support back inside the box but a lesson for him to learn. Even our more consistent performer this season does make mistakes.

It does take the team a few more minutes to regain control of the match, Sporting then doesn’t have another shot for 30 minutes. In that same amount of time, Man City would have nine, one of which includes the penalty for Erling Haaland that he misses, hitting the crossbar. A good period of possession but as we saw in the first half, they didn’t take advantage.

Matheus Nunes wins the ball back on the edge of the City box and tries to drive forward instead of clearing it. He gets dispossessed and when trying to recover the ball back inside his box gives away a penalty. Admittedly a soft one, the standard is lower in Europe for handballs, but Nunes should have cleared the ball before it.

Jeremy Doku has a tough task to get back into the team given the performances of Nunes on and off the ball. The chances he’s creating, crosses provided, and goal contributions. But he has looked determined and focused when coming on in the last two matches for ten minutes which is an encouraging sign.

Kevin De Bruyne came on for the final five minutes which is good for his fitness and eventual return to the team but you didn’t get the impression he was too happy to come on.

Moving Forward

Manchester City have now lost three matches in a a row, and despite having players out to injury or playing tired, they need to get back to winning. Of course, there were plenty of positives in the first half against Sporting, they were unfortunate with the timing of the goals conceded and the penalties given. I get all of that, but you still defended transitions poorly, still struggled to take your chances, and to win against Brighton then your performance level as a whole needs to step up. Which players start and make the bench against Brighton is going to be quite telling.

Now when it comes to changes in the system or personnel it’s quite clear from the match against Sporting where Mateo Kovacic out of possession and Bernardo Silva alongside him does not solve that problem. In possession, his instinct is to turn back which can be a pressing trigger for the opposition, he looks to carry first not pass first, and that’s where Ilkay Gundogan has the advantage in his position. But he’s got the same issues OOP. The clear personnel change required is to replace the six with another player or ensure that the midfielder next to him can meet the out-of-possession demands.

When it comes to the IP system, the obvious area to look at is being more conservative with the role of inverting a defender. Rico Lewis is pushing up very high to form the 3-1-6 but they could switch to a more conservative 3-2-5 with Rico Lewis alongside Kovacic/Gundogan/#6.

When it comes to the OOP system, the pressing could be shifted to better protect the middle of the pitch. Instead of having Erling Haaland press the opposition goalkeeper, have him sit on the number six, using the wingers to press the opposition CBs and jump up your FBs and press their FBs. Keeping a unit of four in the middle, two midfield, and two central defenders.

If we are just talking about Phil Foden then I thought that was his best performance since he’s returned to the first team, looking like he’s found his rhythm and that’s encouraging for the rest of the season. It’s very early in the season but we are starting to see some changes in the way he plays and the underlying numbers back that up in the small sample size.

23/24 > 24/25 per 90

• xA - 0.22 > 0.61

• xAG - 0.26 > 0.41

• Shot-Creating Action - 4.54 > 7.48

• Long passes completed - 2.15 > 3.90

• Key Passes - 2.30 > 2.93

• Passes into Penalty Area - 1.80 > 2.44

• Crosses Attempted - 2.81 > 7.07

• Through Balls - 0.47 > 0.73

• Touches in the Final Third - 38.2 > 48.3

Worth noting that Foden is the first-choice corner taker on the right side now.

Since Ruben Dias and John Stones are unlikely to be available against Brighton, I’d like to see Simpson-Pusey continue to start. Impressed with his performance against Spurs with limited minutes and that continued in his full start in the CL. Physically ready to compete and win duels, brave enough to make forward passes, and composed in possession. Congratulations to him and his family, a huge moment in his career regardless of his future at Manchester City.

Next up for Manchester City is Brighton (A) on Saturday 9th November, 17:30 GMT. Then the players will leave on international duty, returning before the end of November for a home match against Tottenham.

If you want to know which players are the individual stat leaders in the Champions League this season after four matches then check out the thread linked below. 👇

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