Manchester City slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Sporting Lisbon, although many of Roberto Mancini’s stellar performers were missing from the team-sheet.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry and Kolo Toure were all absent for City, as well as their summer acquisitions David Silva, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng.

A brace from Yannick Djalo in the first-half secured the win for the Portuguese side, who are only one week away from the opening game in their domestic league.

Craig Bellamy missed two chances early on, although his first effort from a tight angle forced Sporting’s goalkeeper Tiago Ferreira into a fine save.

Lisbon took the lead in the 23rd minute when Djalo found space between Vincent Kompany and stand-in captain Micah Richards and headed past a sprawling Joe Hart.

And Sporting's superior fitness levels told again six minutes before half-time when Djalo added his second following a slick interchange with his strike partner Carlos Saleiro.

A pass played into Saliero was neatly flicked round Greg Cunningham and on to Djalo, who easily dribbled past Hart before sliding the ball into an empty net.

Since the game was a friendly fixture, Daniel Carrico escaped punishment for bringing down Jo on the edge of the area, with the resultant free-kick coming to nothing.

Mancini made six substitutions in the second half but City were unable to create any clear cut chances against a side who were in the latter stage of their pre-season schedule.

City now face the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, but both sides stand no chance of winning the Barclays New York Challenge.

Manchester City: Hart; Richards, Kompany, Lescott (Onuoha 46mins), Cunningham (Bridge 45); Ireland (Boyata 64), Vieira (Tchuimeni-Nimely 64), Zabaleta, A. Johnson; Jo (Tutte 74), Bellamy (Guidetti 74). Subs not used: Taylor.