Football

Manchester City's defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed as Sporting Lisbon stunned the Premier League champions 4-1 in the Champions League, with Viktor Gyokeres' hat-trick inspiring the Portuguese side to a famous victory.Ruben Amorim, who has agreed to take over as Manchester United manager on November 11, orchestrated Sporting's triumph, showcasing his tactical acumen and the potential he brings to Old Trafford.Despite Phil Foden's early goal for City, Sporting refused to be intimidated. Gyokeres equalized before halftime, and Maximiliano Araujo doubled Sporting's lead shortly after the break. Gyokeres then converted two penalties to complete his hat-trick and seal a remarkable comeback.Erling Haaland missed a penalty for City, hitting the bar, as the visitors' defensive woes continued. Amorim's tactical brilliance was evident as Sporting exploited City's injury-hit backline, with Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, making his first start for the club, particularly vulnerable.Amorim's victory over City has heightened expectations among Manchester United fans, who hope he can replicate his success at Old Trafford. However, the Portuguese manager faces a daunting task in restoring the club to its former glory.Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola's City have suffered a dramatic loss of momentum, losing three consecutive games for the first time this season. The absence of key players has taken its toll, and Guardiola will need to find solutions quickly to avoid further setbacks.Sporting, on the other hand, are in excellent form under Amorim, who has guided them to two Portuguese titles in four years. Their victory over City leaves them in a strong position in the Champions League, with 10 points from four games.

Real Madrid's Champions League woes continued on Tuesday as they suffered a humiliating 3-1 home defeat to AC Milan. The loss marked Madrid's second in four matches and left them languishing in the middle of the table.Kylian Mbappe, who has struggled to find his best form since joining from Paris Saint-Germain, failed to score again and has now netted just once in his last six matches for Madrid. The French striker was denied by Mike Maignan in the first half and again before halftime.Milan took the lead in the 12th minute through Malick Thiaw's header from a corner. Vinicius Junior equalized from the penalty spot after being fouled by Emerson Royal, but Alvaro Morata restored Milan's lead before the break.Tijjani Reijnders sealed the victory for Milan in the second half, finishing off a superb solo run by Rafael Leao. Madrid's hopes of a comeback were dashed when Antonio Rudiger's goal was ruled offside.Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted that his team is "not giving a good account of itself" and called for improvements in compactness and organization. "We have to be worried," he said. "The team's not giving a good account of itself."Milan coach Paulo Fonseca praised his team's bravery and work rate. "The players came here with courage, didn't have any fear... in the first half we created plenty and in the second half we were on the back foot, but we fought together," he said.Madrid's next Champions League match is at Anfield against Liverpool, by when Ancelotti will hope to have solved some of his team's growing problems.

Sporting CP and Manchester City will clash in a highly anticipated UEFA Champions League 2024-25 match on Wednesday, November 6 (IST). The match will be held at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, and will kick off at 1:30 AM IST.Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, will be looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats to Tottenham in the League Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League. Manager Pep Guardiola will face off against his future rival, Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim, who will take charge of the Portuguese champions for the penultimate time before joining Manchester United.The two sides last met in the last 16 of the 2021/22 Champions League, with City securing a comfortable 5-0 aggregate victory. However, both teams have started the new Champions League format strongly, with seven points from their opening three matches.Sporting CP, led by Amorim, has impressed in the Champions League this season, defeating Eintracht Frankfurt and Marseille. They will be hoping to continue their good form against a formidable Manchester City side.City, despite their recent setbacks, remain one of the favorites to win the Champions League. With a star-studded squad featuring Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden, Guardiola's team will be confident of securing a positive result in Lisbon.The match promises to be an intriguing tactical battle between two of Europe's top managers. Amorim's Sporting CP will look to exploit City's recent defensive vulnerabilities, while Guardiola will be keen to restore his team's winning ways.Fans can expect a high-quality match with plenty of attacking flair and tactical intrigue. The outcome could have significant implications for both teams' hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Liverpool, the reigning UEFA Champions League champions, will host Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, in a crucial Group B match. The Reds, currently second in the group with 9 points, will be aiming to secure the top spot, while Leverkusen, with 7 points, will be looking to strengthen their position in the top two.Liverpool, under the guidance of manager Jürgen Klopp, have been in impressive form in the Champions League this season, winning their last three matches. They will be confident of extending their winning streak against a Leverkusen side that has also shown glimpses of quality.Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool midfielder, will make a special return to Anfield as the manager of Leverkusen. Alonso, who played a pivotal role in Liverpool's 2005 Champions League triumph, will be hoping to guide his team to a memorable victory against his former club.Leverkusen, currently third in the Bundesliga, have been inconsistent this season but have shown their potential in the Champions League. They will be looking to exploit any weaknesses in the Liverpool defense and capitalize on their attacking prowess.The match promises to be an exciting encounter between two teams with a rich history in European competition. Liverpool will be looking to maintain their dominance in the Champions League, while Leverkusen will be determined to prove that they can compete with the best in Europe.

Real Madrid, the reigning UEFA Champions League champions, will face off against AC Milan at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, in a highly anticipated Group Stage match.Real Madrid, led by the prolific Kylian Mbappe, has had a mixed start to their Champions League campaign, securing victories against VFB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund but suffering a disappointing loss to Lille. The Spanish giants will be eager to bounce back and assert their dominance in the competition.AC Milan, on the other hand, has endured a challenging start to their European campaign, with just one win from their first three matches. The Italian giants will be determined to turn their fortunes around and secure a positive result against Real Madrid.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of Europe's most storied clubs. Real Madrid will rely on the brilliance of Mbappe, Karim Benzema, and Luka Modric, while AC Milan will look to the likes of Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud, and Sandro Tonali to inspire them to victory.The match will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network in India, with live streaming available on the Sony Liv app and website. Fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating this clash of titans, as Real Madrid and AC Milan battle for supremacy in the UEFA Champions League.

Mizoram Football Association Cracks Down on Match-Fixing ScandalIn a major blow to the integrity of football in Mizoram, the Mizoram Football Association (MFA) has imposed severe sanctions on three clubs, 24 players, and three officials for their involvement in match-fixing during the recently concluded Mizoram Premier League (MPL-11).The MFA's investigation, conducted in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, uncovered a web of corruption that had infiltrated the state's top football league. As a result, Sihphir Venghlun FC, FC Bethlehem, and Ramhlun Athletic FC have been banned from all football activities for three years.Two players have been handed lifetime bans, while four have received five-year bans and 10 have been suspended for three years. Eight individuals involved in the scandal have also been banned for one year.The MFA's statement condemned the actions of those involved, stating that they "represent a severe breach of our values, undermine the integrity of our sport, and disrespect the fans who passionately support Mizoram Football."The association emphasized its commitment to transparency and integrity, assuring stakeholders that clubs and individuals implicated in match-fixing will face severe consequences.The scandal has cast a shadow over the reputation of the MPL-11, but the MFA has vowed to move forward with a renewed focus on fair play and ethical conduct. The association has called upon the football community to stand with them as they navigate this challenging chapter.The MFA's swift and decisive action sends a strong message that match-fixing will not be tolerated in Mizoram football. It is a testament to the association's commitment to upholding the integrity of the sport and protecting the interests of its fans.

Inter Milan face a crucial week in their pursuit of European and domestic glory, with the visits of Arsenal and Napoli looming large. The Italian champions have shown signs of vulnerability despite their unbeaten run, and Simone Inzaghi's team will need to rediscover their form to maintain their title aspirations.Inter are level on points with Arsenal in the Champions League and sit comfortably in the top eight, but their performances have been inconsistent. They have conceded 13 goals in 11 Serie A fixtures, a significant increase from last season's impressive defensive record. Their attack has also struggled to close out matches, with a two-goal lead against Juventus being squandered in a 4-4 draw.Inzaghi has identified the need for greater clinical finishing, as Inter have missed numerous chances that could have made their matches easier. Lautaro Martinez, the match-winner against Venezia, is expected to start alongside Marcus Thuram in the Champions League. Thuram has been a key player for Inter, but he and Martinez have often had to come off the bench to rescue the team.Inter have received a boost with the return of Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Acerbi, who will be available after injury layoffs. However, wing-back Carlos Augusto remains out, with Federico Dimarco in excellent form in his absence. Dimarco's creativity will be crucial against Arsenal and Napoli.Inter's defense will face a stern test against Arsenal's attacking trio of Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli. Napoli, meanwhile, boast one of the most potent attacks in Europe, led by Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.Inzaghi's team will need to find a way to balance their attacking and defensive responsibilities. They must be clinical in front of goal while also tightening up at the back. If they can do that, they have the quality to overcome both Arsenal and Napoli and keep their European and domestic ambitions alive.

The Indian senior men's football team, under the guidance of head coach Manolo Marquez, has announced a 26-member squad for the upcoming FIFA International Friendly against Malaysia. The match will be held on November 18 at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.The Blue Tigers, as the Indian team is known, will assemble in Hyderabad on November 11 for a training camp. Their last friendly match was against Vietnam in October, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Farukh Choudhary scored the lone goal for India in that match.India has been struggling for form in recent times, failing to win in their last 11 matches. Their last victory came against Kuwait in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on November 16, 2023.Coach Marquez has named three experienced goalkeepers in the squad: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Vishal Kaith. Defenders Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, and Rahul Bheke have been included to strengthen the backline.Midfielders Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, and Jithin MS have also been named in the squad. Lallianzuala Chhangte will lead the attack force against Malaysia.The Blue Tigers will be hoping to end their winless streak and secure a victory in the upcoming match. They will face a Malaysia team that is ranked 148th in the FIFA World Rankings, while India is ranked 106th.

Kylian Mbappe's departure from Paris Saint-Germain has left a significant void in the team's attack, particularly in the Champions League. Despite a strong start to the Ligue 1 season, PSG have struggled in Europe, with just four points from three games.The French giants' struggles were evident in their 1-0 victory over Girona, where they managed 26 attempts but only scored thanks to a late own-goal. A 2-0 defeat at Arsenal followed, exposing PSG's lack of attacking prowess. In their most recent Champions League outing, they drew 1-1 with PSV Eindhoven, again failing to convert their chances despite 26 attempts.PSG's poor finishing has been a recurring issue, dating back to last season's Champions League semi-finals, where they failed to score against Borussia Dortmund despite 45 attempts. This season, they have scored just two goals from 62 attempts in Europe.The absence of a reliable center-forward has been a major factor in PSG's attacking woes. Goncalo Ramos, who was expected to fill the void left by Mbappe, suffered an ankle injury early in the season and is yet to return. Randal Kolo Muani, signed for a hefty 90 million euros, has failed to impress and has been an unused substitute in the last two games.Despite their struggles in the Champions League, PSG remain dominant in Ligue 1, sitting six points clear at the top of the table. However, their European ambitions are in jeopardy, and they face a crucial clash against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.Atletico, known for their strong defense, will pose a significant challenge for PSG. The French side will need to be more clinical in front of goal if they want to secure a positive result and keep their Champions League hopes alive.