For Manchester City to leave Lisbon with a Champions League victory, they’ll need to keep Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting Lisbon’s prolific goalscorer, at bay.
The Swedish forward has become one of the hottest names in football due to his remarkable scoring record with the Portuguese champions. The 26-year-old netted 43 goals across all competitions last season, five more than City’s own goal machine, Erling Haaland. He’s carried that form into this season, scoring 20 goals in 16 games, sparking links with Manchester United, where he could reunite with his current manager, Ruben Amorim, or potentially even a move to Arsenal.
Gyokeres will be a significant challenge for City’s defense when they meet at the Jose Alvalade Stadium. His rise to stardom has been unconventional; he struggled to make an impact at Brighton and Hove Albion before his breakthrough at Coventry City under manager Mark Robins. During the 2022/23 season, Gyokeres scored 22 goals, driving Coventry within a penalty shootout of Premier League promotion in the Championship play-offs.
His Championship performances caught Sporting’s attention, leading him to his current role as one of Europe’s top strikers. Former manager Robins isn’t surprised by his success in Portugal. “Listen, it’s all down to Vik,” Robins told *Coventry Live*. “He has the drive, the character, and the ambition within his DNA.”
Reflecting on Gyokeres’ meteoric rise, Robins noted, “He was in a rush to reach the top, and we were a penalty away from seeing him in the Premier League with us. Now he’s in a different league, surrounded by quality players, and he’s been nothing short of exceptional. He’s one of Europe’s top performers and one of the best strikers out there.”
Gyokeres will be eager to prove his worth against an injury-hit City squad. With Amorim managing his final Champions League game for Sporting before joining United on November 11, both he and Gyokeres will be keen to make a statement against the Premier League champions.
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