This fucking sport
Manchester City are out of the Champions League after losing 3-1 to Lyon in the final Champions League quarter-final.
Even after everything that has happened since the tournament’s resumption; Real Madrid collapsing, Barcelona conceding eight goals, Paris Saint-Germain not bottling it, Atletico going out to an energy drink; this was still not the outcome anyone was expecting.
Even after Lyon had knocked out Juventus, City’s dominance against Real Madrid was so emphatic that they suddenly they joint favourites. I, admittedly, wrote that barring a miracle, City would be in the semis.
But this is City, in the Champions League, managed by Pep Guardiola. He has a tendency to second guess his own team selections in these games.
Once again, the man whose ideals have shaped the way football is played across the world for much of the last decade, entered reactive mode and changed to a back three system, with two defensive midfielders. While the logic in matching up against Lyon’s shape is sound, it’s not a shape his team are all that familiar with. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but this is not the first time it has happened.
Alas, Lyon deserve credit. They exploited space left behind City’s defensive line as Kyle Walker played Maxwel Cornet onside, allowing the wing-back to capitalise on an error from Ederson, who had a night to forget between the sticks.
Lyon lead in Lisbon! 😮🇫🇷
Maxwel Cornet sneaks his effort into the near post to stun Manchester City!
The Ivorian's fourth goal against them in the Champions League!#Club2020 pic.twitter.com/0UmCn2ko8P
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 15, 2020
Kevin De Bruyne levelled the scoring in the 69th minute, starting and finishing a brilliant move in which City exposed the only space Lyon allowed them – outside the right sided centre-back. Someone should have tracked De Bruyne’s run but the finish shows just why he one of the best players on the planet.
Kevin de Bruyne has Man City back on terms!
The Belgian starts and finishes the sweeping move.
Fantastic composure from the City captain ❄️#Club2020 pic.twitter.com/dgARQxyFVa
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 15, 2020
Memphis Depay, who has grown into a hero, started the game with the armband but failed to pose any real threat. He made way for former Fulham and Celtic striker Moussa Dembélé on 75 minutes, an obvious but inspired change that gave Lyon the boost they needed to take advantage of City’s vulnerable back line.
Lyon regained the lead with just over ten minutes remaining, as Dembélé latched onto a pass cleverly left by the offside Toko Ekambi, with oceans of space to run into. His finish could have been better, but the ball squirmed under Ederson who, again, should do better. There were optimistic shouts for a foul in the build up to the goal, after Dembele appeared to trip Aymeric Laporte but VAR concluded no foul had been committed. Advantage Lyon.
Lyon lead once more!
Moussa Dembele pounces to put Lyon within touching distance of the semi-finals!#Club2020 pic.twitter.com/e7vPyWuBHh
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 15, 2020
And just to put any hope of an equaliser to bed, Dembélé again popped up to punish another fumble from Ederson.
The minute that sunk Manchester City 😱
86' Sterling miss
87' Dembele goalMan City's top scorer couldn't capitalise, but Lyon's top striker was there to take full advantage!#Club2020 pic.twitter.com/ElLEB62PkG
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 15, 2020
De Bruyne said City “need to learn” in his post-match interview. He is right. Pep, especially, needs to learn from these experiences if he is to lift the trophy again. Next season will probably be his last in Manchester and City fans will be hoping lessons are learned from this tie that weren’t from all the others.
