Noel Gallagher was a surprise guest on the TNT Sport commentary team for Manchester City’s Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon – with his evening turning rather sour in the Portuguese capital.
The Oasis star joined Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist in the gantry for Tuesday night’s game. But the dream gig turned into a nightmare with City thrashed 4-1 by the the Portuguese champions despite taking the lead early on.
The match had extra significance for the Premier League champions with it serving as Ruben Amorim’s final home game in charge of Sporting before taking over at City’s arch-rivals Manchester United later this month.
Some fans were left reaching for the remote after discovering Gallagher would be in front of the microphone on commentary duty all evening.
‘Wish I could mute Noel Gallagher on commentary. Holy f**k this is abysmal,’ one X user wrote.
@seanyhynz added: ‘Noel Gallagher on commentary for #SPOMCI #TNTsports never hit the mute button so hard.’
City took the lead after just four minutes through an excellent opener from Phil Foden, creating a string of chances to double their lead in what was an impressive first-half showing.
With City in control, Gallagher waxed lyrical over the performance – moments before Sporting equalised.
Paying for those missed chances, Viktor Gyokeres raced through to score an equaliser, having earlier spurned a huge opportunity.
United fan Scott Patterson wrote: ‘Noel Gallagher banging on about how easy it is for City. Just before conceding…’
City endured a horror start to the second-half, finding themselves 3-1 down four minutes into the second period.
Roared on my an electric home crowd, Maximiliano Araújo and a second from Gyokeres gave the hosts a two-goal lead.
Many watching on from home, some of whom we may suspect being United fans, revelled in City and Gallagher’s misery – which only grew when Erling Haaland rattled the cross bar from the penalty spot.
‘Hi @NoelGallagher you’ve gone quiet is your mic off?’ one user wrote.
Paddy Power added: ‘TNT bringing in Noel Gallagher to do co-commentary and he has to sit there as the future Man Utd manager’s team stuffs Man City. Things you love to see.’
Daramallon wrote: ‘Amorim and the boys have Pep and the entire city team rattled here and the cherry on top is Noel Gallagher commentating on it.’
Gyokeres piled more misery on City, completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot to seal a perfect send-off for Amorim.
As the final minutes ticked away, Gallagher did aim one parting shot at United supporters who will have been elated watching their incoming manager mastermind a battering over their city rivals.
‘It [the result] will give ’em false hope. Hopefully,’ Gallagher said, before admitting he can see Sporting’s hat-trick hero Gyokeres ‘playing for United next year.’
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