Lethargic City Make Way For Lyon Endeavour

Johnny On The Spot: #SHOCKER. Time and again we’ve been told how Ligue 1 in France ain’t all that as we ponder Paris Saint Germain’s repeated running out of steam at the highest level of European football. Confronted with the utterly unexpected sight of a lethargic, stuttering and complacent Manchester City, a well organised, well drilled young Lyon team played high up the pitch and filled their boots to the tune of a thoroughly deserved 0-2 Half Time lead. First to almost every second ball, the 7th placed French side had clearly done their homework and played with abundant energy and hassled the English champions at every turn. City were disjointed and woefully lacking in creativity or competitive edge.

The Blues ragged approach and glaring lack of defensive discipline right through the side continued in the second period despite an increase in intent. On the hour mark Lyon were still countering with ambition, but not unlike the aforementioned PSG, they began to run out of energy. Growing in agression, City spearheaded by the introduction of  a fired up Leroy Sané began to take the game to the visitors who had been admirably led by the outstanding Nabil Fekir. Lyon had played narrowly throughout but what I saw as a reserved City team selection had not exploited the spaces out wide. City pulled a goal back then Riyad Mahrez joined the fray in a further bid to stretch Lyon whose attacking forays had become reduced to ever-dangerous counter attacks. However, there was an immaturity about City’s performance that persisted and wrong decisions continued to made left, right and centre despite Lyon’s evident exhaustion. Yet Lyon came with a game plan which they executed impressively and had done enough to see the game out and earn the plaudits for the shock of the season to date. City must now regroup rapidly and rediscover their hunger. The set up and attitude will have to be vastly improved for the combat waiting for us in Cardiff.

Manchester City				Olympique Lyon
Bernardo Silva (67')				Cornet (26'), Fekir (43')
31 Ederson				1 Anthony Lopes
2 Kyle Walker				4 Rafael Pereira da Silva			Dubois 76'
5 John Stones				6 Guedes Filho
14 Aymeric Laporte				5 Jason Denayer
18 Fabian Delph				22 Ferland Mendy
8 Ilkay Gündogan			Sané 55'	24 Diop Gueye
25 Fernandinho				28 NDombele
21 David Silva				8 Houssem Aouar
20 Bernardo Silva				27 Maxwell Cornet			Traoré 90+2'
33 Gabriel Jesus			Agüero 63'	18 Nabil Fekir			Tousart 79'
7 Raheem Sterling			Mahrez 76'	11 Memphis Depay
Substitutes
4 Vincent Kompany				9 Dembele
10 Sergio Agüero				10 Bertrand Traoré
19 Leroy Sané				12 Jordan Ferri
26 Riyad Mahrez				14 Leo Dubois
30 Nicolas Otamendi				15 Jeremy Morel
47 Philip Foden				29 Lucas Tousart
49 Aro Muric				30 Gorgelin

Game Statistics
22	Goal attempts	11
8	On Target	4
6	Corners	1
14	Fouls	8
1	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
70	%	30