Amorim's Sporting Stuns Man City in Champions League with Gyokeres' Hat-Trick

Sporting manager Amorim has agreed to join United and will officially take over as the new manager on Nov 11, replacing Erik ten Hag.

Regarded as one of Europe’s brightest young managerial minds, the 39-year-old delivered a tantalising glimpse of his acumen as Sporting exposed injury-hit City’s defensive weaknesses.

Phil Foden put City ahead in the opening moments at the Jose Alvalade stadium, but the visitors wasted a string of chances to increase their lead and Sporting made them pay.

Gyokeres equalised before half-time and Maximiliano Araujo bagged Sporting’s second after the break before Gyokeres’s penalty capped their incredible fightback with two penalties.

Erling Haaland squandered a chance to give City a second half lifeline when his penalty hit the bar.

Amorim said United fans might think “the new Alex Ferguson has arrived” if his team beat City.

After the turbulent end to Ten Hag’s reign - he was sacked in October with United languishing in the bottom half of the table - Amorim clearly faces a huge task to restore the club to the glory they enjoyed in the Ferguson era.

Comparisons with United’s legendary former boss should be shelved for now, but Sporting’s spirited victory will have fans counting down the days until his arrival.

Amorim, who led Sporting to two Portuguese titles in four years, is set to take charge of his first United game at Ipswich on Nov 24.

Pep Guardiola will get his chance for revenge in Amorim’s first Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on Dec 15.

But Guardiola has plenty to work on before then as he looks for solutions to City’s unexpected three-game losing streak.

Premier League champions City suffered a first top-flight defeat of the season against Bournemouth on Saturday, three days after losing to Tottenham in the League Cup.