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Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 19, 2018 at 8pm UK
 
Lyon

1-2

Silva (67')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Cornet (26'), Fekir (43')

Live Commentary: Manchester City 1-2 Lyon - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage as Lyon register an impressive 2-1 win at Manchester City in Wednesday's Champions League clash.
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Goals from Maxwel Cornet and Nabil Fekir have earned Lyon a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in Wednesday's Champions League clash at the Etihad Stadium.

The duo both produced composed finishes in the first half as City struggled to impose themselves, but Bernardo Silva halved the deficit with a quarter of the game remaining.

However, City were unable to force an equaliser - which they probably deserved - and Pep Guardiola's team now sit at the bottom of Group F.

Find out how all of the action unfolded in the North-West of England courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Champions League fixture between Manchester City and Lyon. The Premier League champions are favourites to prevail at the Etihad Stadium but despite a slow start in Ligue 1, Lyon have the quality in their squad to cause a surprise in the North-West of England. Let's see who features in each starting lineup...

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Delph; Fernandinho, Gundogan; Silva, Bernardo, Sterling; Jesus

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Muric, Kompany, Aguero, Sane, Mahrez, Otamendi, Foden


LYON XI: Lopes; Rafael, Marcelo, Denayer, Mendy; Ndombele, Diop; Cornet, Fekir, Aouar; Depay

LYON SUBSTITUTES: Gorgelin, Dubois, Morel, Tousart, Ferri, Traore, Dembele


Let's start by taking a look at the City side as Pep Guardiola opts to leave Sergio Aguero on the bench. The striker sustained an injury during the early stages of the second half in the game with Fulham at the weekend and although the Argentine is fit enough to feature in the squad, Gabriel Jesus is being used in attack.

Guardiola has also made an alteration at the back with John Stones being preferred to Nicolas Otamendi. The latter has struggled for game-time this season and that continues tonight as Aymeric Laporte is kept in the team.

The third and final change sees Leroy Sane drop back down to the bench, despite having impressed at the weekend. Guardiola has instead decided to bring Ilkay Gundogan back into the starting lineup to partner Fernandinho in the centre of the park.

Joining Sane among the replacements is Riyad Mahrez, who is still to make much of an impact at his new club. Phil Foden is also in the 18-man squad having remained largely inactive since the start of the campaign.

There are several familiar faces in the Lyon starting lineup, including defender Jason Denayer. The Belgium international spent five years contracted to City without ever making a first-team appearance! Tonight represents his third outing for his new club after his transfer last month.

Former Manchester United duo Rafael and Memphis Depay are also selected and will no doubt be backed by their ex-employers to come back to haunt their arch rivals. Depay has a point to prove after a disappointing 18-month period at Old Trafford between June 2015 and January 2017.

Manager Bruno Genesio - as expected - selects Nabil Fekir in behind Depay, while eyes will also be on young midfielder Tanguy Ndombele after the 21-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League during the summer transfer window.

As far as the bench is concerned, both Bertrand Traore and Moussa Dembele will be hoping to make an impact on their return to British soil. Traore - formerly of Chelsea - probably feels hard done by having being left among the replacements, while Dembele has recently left Celtic to link up with the French outfit.

It was a mixed night for English clubs in the Champions League last night. Miss any of the action? Don't worry. We have you covered. Click here to catch the match reports and reaction.

Guardiola has worked wonders at City since his arrival, but the Spaniard will have to do so from the stands this evening. That is due to his dismissal from the touchline in the second leg of last season's quarter-final with Liverpool.

You rarely see City involved in a goalless draw and the stats suggest that we will witness goals tonight. The English side have always scored or conceded in each of their 42 group games in the Champions League.

City are participating in their eighth successive Champions League campaign, the longest of any English team in this year's competition. They have reached the knockout stages in each of the last five years.

Guardiola's side remain undefeated this season but the North-West outfit have not had it all their own way. They were held by newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, and they only managed a narrow 2-1 triumph over Newcastle United. City may sit in third spot, but there is definitely room for improvement.

Lyon would have most certainly taken City's start. The French club have only recorded seven points from five matches in Ligue 1, with defeats coming against Reims and Nice.

Lyon also boast plenty of firepower but they have only managed six goals in 450 minutes of action. Traore is the only player to score twice, yet only makes the bench this evening.

On a more positive note, qualification for this year's campaign has ensured that Lyon remain with the most appearances of any French club in this competition. Paris Saint-Germain are by far and away the biggest threat, but Lyon are consistent performers on the European stage.

That was proven last season as the club reached the last 16 of the Europa League. After coming through a strong-looking group which involved both Atalanta BC and Everton, Lyon got past Villarreal before being edged out on away goals by CSKA Moscow.

PREDICTION! Manchester City had won seven of their last eight home matches in Europe prior to successive defeats at the hands of Basel and Liverpool. Guardiola will see Wednesday night as a chance to get his side back up and running in that regard, but Lyon are no pushovers and return to England with nothing to lose. City to edge it 2-1.

HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's clash represents the first time that these two teams have ever met in a competitive fixture!

City have played a total of five games against French opposition in European competition, registering two wins, two draws and a single defeat. The setback was a costly one. City held a 5-3 advantage after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Monaco, but the Ligue 1 side recorded a 3-1 triumph at Stade Louis II to progress on away goals.

You have to go back to 2009 since Lyon played one of the Premier League big guns in the Champions League. Lyon came from behind to earn a late 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield, before the reverse fixture ended in a 1-1 draw.

However, their last trip to England came less than 12 months ago in the Europa League with a 2-1 success coming at Everton. Lyon then powered to a 3-0 victory in front of their own supporters two weeks later.

Before we get started, a quick point in the direction of the other games that we have for you this evening. We have full coverage of Manchester United's trip to Switzerland to face Young Boys and the clash between Real Madrid and Roma, two of last season's semi-finalists.

RESULT! The other game in Group F has just come to a conclusion and it's a good result for both City and Lyon. Shakhtar Donetsk and Hoffenheim have played out a 2-2 draw in Ukraine, with the home team twice fighting back to get on level terms.

It's time for the two teams to start making their way out onto the pitch at the Etihad Stadium. City are one of the favourites to win this competition, but can they lay down a marker in their first game? We are close to finding out.

A reminder of the two starting lineups...

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Delph; Fernandinho, Gundogan; Silva, Bernardo, Sterling; Jesus

LYON XI: Lopes; Rafael, Marcelo, Denayer, Mendy; Ndombele, Diop; Cornet, Fekir, Aouar; Depay


KICKOFF:  Lyon get us underway.

City make a very casual start with Stones and Laporte getting into trouble in the corner, but the latter just about does enough to clear the danger.

It's all very competitive in the middle of the park with Lyon matching their hosts. It's for this reason that Guardiola has gone slightly more defensive than usual.

City certainly haven't started all guns blazing, as you may have expected. Whether that is down to what Lyon are doing remains to be seen, but the home side's flair players have barely touched the ball.

SHOT!  Lyon work a threatening position down the left but Aouer is greedy and goes it alone, cutting inside before hooking a weak effort wide of Ederson's right-hand post.

City hit back by going on the attack but after Sterling is given the chance to cross from the left, Denayer is well placed to clear the danger from inside his own six-yard box.

Sterling is beginning to become a major threat on the left. The England international should probably shoot first time when given the chance but after choosing to control, his resulting effort goes harmlessly into the side-netting.

City are still to create a clear-cut chance but they are beginning to get into their stride now. Sterling has the beating of Rafael, while Jesus is starting to find some space in behind the backline.

SHOT!  A low corner goes through to Fernandinho who is waiting close to the penalty spot, but the Brazilian sends a volley high over the crossbar.

Denayer has started extremely well for Lyon - so well in fact that you wonder why he was never used by City. On this occasion, the defender makes a fine block to deny Sterling.

OFF THE POST!  Close for City. An inswinging cross from Gundogan is helped on by goalkeeper Lopes, but Laporte is waiting in the path of the ball. However, the centre-back can only head against the post from an acute angle.

SHOT!  Lyon win a free kick on the right, which Depay trots over to take. The outswinging delivery finds Diop, but his header goes well wide of the post.

CHANCE!  This is magnificent. City put together a sensational move from the back which ends with Sterling cutting inside and getting a shot away on his right foot. A deflection makes it tricky for Lopes, but the goalkeeper claims at the second attempt.

Cornet gets in behind the City defence, takes the ball around Ederson and slots into an empty net. However, the winger is less than half a yard offside. It's so tight!

It's all gone a bit quiet at the Etihad. I think the home supporters realise that their team are in a game!

GOAL!  Manchester City 0-1 Lyon (Maxwel Cornet)

Lyon get the goal that they probably deserve. Fekir is released down the left and his cross is aimed towards Cornet at the back post. Delph should clear but the ball goes under his foot, leaving Cornet to find the bottom corner with a half-volley. Excellent finish.

Lyon are already looking for a second. They have not arrived at the Etihad Stadium looking to sneak a 1-0. City are rattled.

There are ironic cheers when City are awarded a free kick in the middle of the pitch, but I'm not sure what for. The official is refereeing this match well. It's a sign of frustration from the home supporters.

City have the ball in the net but Sterling is adjudged to be offside. Like the Cornet decision earlier, it's so tight but the winger is just behind the defence when the ball is played.

SHOT!  City are offering a positive response to going behind and some of the crowd think that their side have found an equaliser through Delph. However, the left-back's low deflected effort is just about clawed out by Lopes down to his right.

The next nine minutes plus added-on time could define the rest of the match. A City equaliser may lead to a more defensive approach from Lyon but if the scoreline remains the same or Lyon net a second, expect the visitors to keep pushing forward. They fancy their chances here.

No more chances to speak of but City have just had a free kick in a threatening position which came to nothing after Gundogan attempted to cross rather than shoot.

Should City have been given a penalty here? Jesus dances into the box and switches the ball onto his right foot in an attempt to draw a foul. Rafael pulls his leg back to avoid a challenge and Jesus instigates contact and goes down. No penalty, but you have seen them given.

City continue to live dangerously up the other end of the pitch. Three shots are blocked in quick succession as Lyon look to double their advantage.

GOAL!  Manchester City 0-2 Lyon (Nabil Fekir)

Lyon go two ahead through Fekir! The France international is given far too much space to run towards goal and from 20 yards, the playmaker drills a low shot through the legs of Stones and into the bottom corner.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

HALF TIME:  Manchester City 0-2 Lyon

The half-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and Lyon go into the break with a two-goal advantage. They deserve it as well having been bold enough to attack City on their own patch. The Premier League side have hit the post through Laporte but aside from that, it has been slim pickings in the final third.

Lyon's opener came from a fine finish from Cornet, who found the bottom corner from an acute angle, but Delph will have to take the blame for failing to clear the ball after a cross from the left. The City defence as a whole were guilty for the second, dropping deeper to allow Fekir to fire the ball into the bottom corner from just outside of the penalty area.

City's best chance came through Laporte but even though the defender hit the post with a close-range header, he was working with a tight angle. Sterling has been bright but aside from that. City have not looked much of a threat in and around the 18-yard box.

KICKOFF:  We are back underway at the Etihad Stadium. No changes from either side but Delph is being used in midfield with Guardiola going with a back three.

City are already playing with more urgency and it is forcing Lyon to drop deeper. The French side would probably be better off continuing to attack their hosts. If City get one back, that could soon become two.

SHOT!  More good work from City leads to Fernandinho getting an opportunity to shoot from distance, but the midfielder's effort is dragged wide of the post.

The increase in urgency has led to a response from the crowd, who were not shy in voicing their frustrations in the first half. They will also be encouraged to see Sane stripping off on the bench.

SHOT!  Lyon are starting to show their intent on the break, but City hit straight back and find Jesus on the edge of the area. The Brazilian's shot takes a deflection and appears on its way past Lopes, but the goalkeeper reacts well.

SUBSTITUTION! Here comes the change with Sane replacing Gundogan.

Sterling has switched to the right and immediately he wins a free kick out of Mendy on the side of the penalty area. Another potential opening here for the home side.

Sterling's set piece finds Jesus at the back post, but the striker heads well off target. It's not been his night so far.

OFF THE POST!  Lyon are inches away from wrapping up this match. Ndombele threads a perfectly-weighted through-ball to Depay and the attacker knows that he has to take the shot on early. The ball beats Ederson - despite the goalkeeper getting a slight touch - but strikes the post before rebounding clear! Will that prove to be a match-saving intervention?

SHOT!  Back come City but the ball only arrives at the feet of Delph, who sends a shot well over the crossbar from 25 yards out.

SUBSTITUTION! City make another alteration with Aguero replacing Jesus.

SHOT!  Delph certainly isn't shy about taking a shot from distance. It's better than the last one, but Lopes makes a comfortable save down to his right.

GOAL!  Manchester City 1-2 Lyon (Bernardo Silva)

City are back in it! Sane jinks around a defender before pulling the ball back for Bernardo, who hits a first-time shot into the bottom corner of the net from around 12 yards out. Game on!

CHANCE!  It's all City now. An outswinging corner finds the head of Stones, who sends his effort just over the crossbar.

Lyon are doing their best to slow things down when they regain possession, but that is only giving City time to have a breather before their next attack. The visitors could benefit from forcing the pace.

SHOT!  Again, more good play from City leads to a chance being created on the edge of the area, but Aguero's low drive is well kept out by Lopes.

SUBSTITUTION! City's final switch sees Mahrez brought on in place of Sterling. Bit of a surprise that one.

SUBSTITUTION! Lyon also makes a change with Dubois replacing Rafael at right-back.

YELLOW CARD!  Fekir goes into the book for a cynical tug on Fekir. That could be his last action of the match.

SUBSTITUTION! Off goes the Lyon skipper, with Tousart coming on in his place.

City win a free kick on the left-hand side of the penalty area. It gives Sane a chance to cross the ball into the box, but his delivery fails to beat the first man.

Sane is again in the thick of the action with the German being found at the back post, but the winger fails to make sufficient contact with a header.

Back comes the substitute who now wins a free kick on the edge of the area. Walker is standing over the ball and there's less than 25 yards to goal. Surely this will be a shot...

SHOT!  The defender takes it on but his effort is never threatening Lopes's goal, with the ball going over the crossbar.

Sane is involved in all of City's play. The attacker gives Silva the chance to send a cross into the box, but the ball goes straight to Lopes.

City still cannot create that one clear chance. Mahrez jinks in and out on the edge of the area, but the playmaker's cross goes straight through to Lopes.

SAVE!  Aguero nearly replicates his famous goal which won City the title, but Lopes tips the ball over the crossbar! So close. There will be three minutes of added-on time.

SUBSTITUTION! Here comes Traore, who replaces Cornet. Will City get one last opportunity?

FULL TIME:  Manchester City 1-2 Lyon

The full-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and Lyon have held on to register an impressive win at the home of the Premier League champions. City will argue that they deserved at least a point, but a poor first-half showing has left Guardiola's side with work to do.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.


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Lyon forward Nabil Fekir in action during his side's Europa League clash against Apollon Limassol on November 23, 2017
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