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Real Madrid and Manchester City were both humiliated in the Champions League, Liverpool are delighted with Alonso's return

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP sports journalist

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

Defending champions Madrid fell 3-1 at home to 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 soon dismissed rivals will look after the city.

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

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

Liverpool are at the top of the league stage table with four wins from four games, followed by Sporting and Monaco, who have 10 points each 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 the teams ranked ninth to 24th enter the playoffs to reach this, while the last twelve teams are eliminated.

Amorim's audition

Before their game, Sporting fans thanked Rúben Amorim in his last home game before taking over at Manchester United.

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

But Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres scored a hat-trick as Sporting came back confidently. Gyökeres equalized in the 38th minute after a perfect through ball from Geovany Quenda, before Maximiliano Araújo made it 2-1 straight after the break. Gyökeres made it 3-1 with a penalty after Joško Gvardiol was penalized for pushing on Francisco Trincão in the penalty area.

Haaland's penalty hit the crossbar before Gyökeres showed the Norwegian how it's done with another penalty at the other end, making the final score 1-0.

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

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

Madrid is faltering

In Spain, Christian Pulisic sent a corner for Malick Thiaw and headed Milan into the lead in the 12th minute. This meant Madrid were behind for the third game in a row in the Champions League this season. The 15-time champion had already lost in the second game against surprise team Lille.

Vinícius Júnior equalized from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute after going down, but Álvaro Morata capitalized on the rebound after Andriy Lunin parried Rafael Leão's shot, restoring the visitors' lead against his former club .

Morata had already faced hostility from the home fans, who appeared to remember the goal he scored to take Juventus to the 2015 final at their team's expense.

Tijjani Reijnders scored Milan's third goal as home fans expressed their displeasure 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 loss to Barcelona in their last Spanish league game.

According to Opta, it is the first time since 2009 that Madrid have lost two consecutive home games by conceding at least three goals in each.

“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 playing a perfect pass to 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 in a 1-0 home win against Sturm Graz, and Thilo Kehrer secured Monaco's 1-0 win in Bologna.

American midfielder Malik Tillman scored a goal and assisted another as PSV Eindhoven defeated Spanish team 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.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.