European heavyweights Real Madrid and Manchester City both suffered heavy 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 by losing 4-1 at Sporting Lisbon, whose coach will soon take charge of its crosstown rival.

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

The Leverkusen manager was warmly welcomed on his return to the club where he became a fan favorite as a player for five seasons between 2004 and 2009. Alonso won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.

Liverpool moved to the top of the league stage table with four wins from four matches, followed by Sporting and Monaco, both on 10 points after three wins and a draw. Under the new 36-team format introduced by UEFA this season, the top eight teams advance directly to the next round, and those from ninth to 24th place compete in the playoffs to advance, while the bottom 12 are eliminated.

Amorim’s Hearing

Before their match, Sporting fans displayed a huge tifo to thank Rúben Amorim in his final home game before he takes the reins at Manchester United.

Phil Foden then got City off to a good start in the fourth minute, only the second goal Sporting have conceded in four games in 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 pass from Geovany Quenda, before Maximiliano Araújo made it 2-1 just after the break. made it 3-1 in the 49th minute from the penalty spot after Joško Gvardiol was penalized for a push on Francisco Trincão in the box.

Haaland’s penalty hit the crossbar, before Gyökeres showed the Norwegian how to do it with another kick at the other end to complete the score.

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

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

Madrid faltering

In Spain, Christian Pulisic sent a corner past Malick Thiaw to give Milan the lead in the 12th minute, securing Madrid’s third consecutive Champions League appearance this season. The 15-time champion had already lost to the surprise Lille team 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 had already received a hostile reception from the home fans, who obviously remember the goal he scored to take Juventus to the 2015 final at his team’s expense.

Tijjani Reijnders scored Milan’s third goal as the home fans made their frustration known at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

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

This is the first time since 2009 that Madrid have lost two consecutive home matches with at least three goals conceded each, according to Opta.

“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 at Lille.

Lille midfielder Edon Zhegrova evaded two defenders before making a perfect pass to Jonathan David, who shot at the far post, but Dušan Vlahović equalized from the penalty spot for the Italian club.

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

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

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