Manchester City 1 Lyon 3 : City Lose Again in Quarter Final
By David Crook
Manchester City lined up against Lyon in the Champions League Quarter Final, hoping to secure passage into the semi finals.
One of the hardest things for Manchester City fans is trying to predict Pep Guardiola’s team line ups. With seemingly continual squad rotation at the forefront of his mind, City teams change every game.
The surprise here was that City went man for man with Lyon, matching their 5-3-2 formation and consequently hoping to smother the Lyon wing backs. It is unusual for City to respect opponents do much, and whilst it nullified the Lyon threat, it also rendered City’s attack somewhat blunted.
Eric Garcia returned to the starting line up and this was clearly for 2 reasons. Firstly , to allow him to carry the ball out into midfield and secondly to add a bit of pace to the backline.
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Within moments Garcia was being tested, covering for Aymeric Laporte and it was clear there was no room for a single error of judgement in this tight match.
Lyon were tidy and extraordinarily aggressive in key moments, both in defense and in attack and looked dangerous in the attack.
Lyon opened the scoring after a long ball over the top of the City high line. City were exposed but given their attack was blunted by the formation, did not look likely to claw one back at this stage.
The first half petered out with City pressing but not looking like scoring. Sterling had a half chance from an excellent Kevin De Bruyne ball but the half ended with City chasing the game.
City looked poor, with players isolated from each other by huge gaps. Lacking intensity and drive, City were second best.
The second half started much the same, with City labouring without purpose and Lyon looking comfortable. On 55 minutes, Fernandinho was withdrawn for Riyad Mahrez, with the first signs that Guardiola may change his tactical system.
De Bruyne drew City level with a well taken goal against the run of play. Raheem Sterling pulled the ball back from the goal line and De Bruyne scored with a daisy cutter from the edge of the area.
Jesus missed a chance to put City ahead and instead Dembele put Lyon into the lead. Again City felt the wrath of VAR as Laporte was fouled in the build up and A Lyon was offside.
The game was effectively over a couple of minutes later as Dembele scored his second on the break and there was heartache for City. Typical City.
David Silva came on to register an appearance and push himself into the top 10 City appearances of all time but it was to no avail.
A game which provided a good chance of progression ended in defeat. City deserved little from the game and Lyon went into the semi finals to face Bayern Munich.
We are used to exiting this competition at this stage but this has been a frustrating season. City did not do enough. Hopefully next season will be different.