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Real Madrid, Manchester City both humiliated in the Champions League, Liverpool enjoy the return of Alonso

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer

European heavyweights Real Madrid and Manchester City both suffered major defeats in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Defending champions Madrid were humiliated 3-1 at home by AC Milan, while Erling Haaland missed a penalty and City squandered a fourth-minute lead as they lost 4-1 at Sporting Lisbon, whose coach will soon take charge of his crosstown rival.

It was a much better night for Liverpool as Luis Diaz scored a hat-trick and Cody Gakpo grabbed another goal in a 4-0 win over German champions Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield, which marred Xabi Alonso’s return to his old home.

The Leverkusen coach received a warm welcome on his return to the club, where he became a fan favorite for five seasons between 2004 and 2009. Alonso won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.

Liverpool climbed to the top of the table with four wins from four games, followed by Sporting and Monaco, both with 10 points after three wins and a draw. Under the new 36-team format introduced by UEFA this season, the top eight teams will progress directly to the next round, and the teams from ninth to 24th will enter the play-offs to reach it, while the bottom twelve are eliminated.

Amorim’s audition

Before their match, Sporting fans displayed a huge tifo thanking Rúben Amorim in his last home game before he takes over Manchester United.

Phil Foden then got City off to a flying start in the fourth minute, only the second goal Sporting have conceded in four games of the competition.

But Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres scored a hat-trick as Sporting came roaring back. Gyökeres first equalized in the 38th after a perfect through ball from Geovany Quenda, before Maximiliano Araújo made it 2-1 just after half-time. Gyökeres then made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after Joško Gvardiol was penalized for pushing Francisco Trincão in the penalty area.

Haaland’s penalty hit the crossbar before Gyökeres showed the Norwegian how to do it with a penalty at the other end to complete the scoring.

It is the first time since 2018 that City have lost three games in a row, following defeat to Tottenham in the English League Cup and defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

“In the seven and a half years I’ve been at the club, I can’t remember losing three games in a row,” said City midfielder Bernardo Silva.

Madrid is faltering

In Spain, Christian Pulisic sent a corner kick to Malick Thiaw to give Milan a 12th-minute lead, putting Madrid behind in their third straight Champions League match this season. The 15-time champions had already lost by surprising team Lille in their second match.

Vinícius Júnior equalized from the penalty spot in the 23rd after being tripped, but Álvaro Morata pounced on the rebound after Andriy Lunin saved Rafael Leão’s shot to restore the visitors’ lead against his former club.

Morata has already received a hostile reception from the home fans, who apparently remember the goal he scored to take Juventus to the 2015 final at their expense.

Tijjani Reijnders scored Milan’s third goal as the home fans showed their frustrations at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

“The last two defeats are inexplicable. We have to analyze and react quickly,” Lunin said, referring to Madrid’s 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the previous Spanish league match.

According to Opta, it is the first time since 2009 that Madrid has lost two home games in a row, with at least three goals conceded in each match.

“We need to get back on track,” Lunin said.

Other results

German striker Nicolas Kühn scored twice as Celtic beat Leipzig 3-1 at home and Juventus drew 1-1 in Lille.

Lille midfielder Edon Zhegrova evaded two defenders before playing a perfect pass for Jonathan David, who shot inside the far post, but Dušan Vlahović equalized with a penalty for the Italian club.

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

American midfielder Malik Tillman scored one goal and set up another as PSV Eindhoven defeated Spanish side Girona 4-0.

Dinamo Zagreb handed Slovan Bratislava their fourth straight defeat in the competition as the visitors came from behind to win 4-1 in Bratislava.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.