The Premier League Champions succumbed to a defeat at home to ‘unpopular’ Lyon in their Champions League opener
Could Pep Guardiola’s absence from the Manchester City touchline could have affected their performance on the pitch? It certainly looked so. Manchester City succumbed to a surprise loss to Lyon at the Etihad in their Champions League opener, as Les Gones take pole position in their group.
Goals from man-of-the-match Maxwel Cornet, and Nabil Fekir in the first half was enough for the French side to take home all three points against City. The home side did get back with a goal from Bernardo Silva in the second half and had plenty of time to force an equaliser. But Lyon stood strong and forced City to accept defeat.
But the defeat could be blamed on individual errors more than the team, as Gundogan, Fernandinho and especially Fabian Delph were culprits for City’s downfall, leading to both Lyon goals.
Let’s see how Manchester City’s stars fared during their defeat to Lyon:
Ederson: 7/10
Not a good night for the Brazilian keeper after conceding two goals at home. Not that Ederson could have done anything about those goals, and it was no fault of his. Although the highlight of the night was his brilliant save of Memphis Depay shot, which could have added a third goal for Lyon.
Kyle Walker: 6/10
Decent outing for the England international, although he did lack the cutting edge from his side of the pitch everyone is so used to seeing. Had a bad first half of the game although was decent in the second period. Wasted one good free-kick opportunity in the second period, where someone else could have done better.
Aymeric Laporte: 5/10
Lyon constantly threatened City with their attacks and the Premier League side’s defenders were in thick of the action. But both Laporte and Stones failed to make any significant mark, especially being helpless for both Lyon goals.
John Stones: 6/10
Stones was the better of the two centre-backs for City against Lyon. Stones made some decent tackles, especially one in the second half. But like Laporte, he could do nothing about the two city goals.
Fabian Delph: 4/10
Tried his best from a distance at times but that wasn’t the answer City were looking for. To add to his woes, his horrendous kick presented Hornet with a golden chance and the Lyon star took it to open the scoring.
Fernandinho: 4/10
Controlled his midfield area as he regularly does, but one moment when Nabil Fekir robbed him of possession of the ball to score Lyon’s second left all his work undone.
Ilkay Gundogan: 4/10
Gundogan’s performances like the one against Lyon shows how much Manchester City miss De Bruyne. Gundogan did not have the dynamism or any ideas how to go about as he failed to control his midfield area all throughout his time on the pitch.
David Silva: 6/10
Provided his teammates with a few opportunities to score, especially for Aguero in the second half, but Silva was not at his sparkling best to dismantle Lyon.
Bernardo Silva: 7/10
A drab first half performance was redeemed in the second period as he was a constant threat in attack for City. Scored City’s only goal of the game, although it did not prove to be enough as his team lost out.
Raheem Sterling: 5/10
A good first half performance, where he was very much willing to try and do some stuff. Faded off in the second and substituted for Riyad Mahrez.
Gabriel Jesus: 4/10
When there are packed defences, Aguero is a beautiful striker, but in the same situation, Gabriel Jesus is equally clueless. Jesus did not show the intelligence to unlock Lyon’s defence, and there was a disconnect between him and the other players on the pitch.
Substitutes
Leroy Sane: 7/10
Came on for Gundogan and immediately started making an impact from the left side.
Sergio Aguero: 5/10
One terrific shot saved by Lopes was all he did for most parts of the time he was on the pitch.
Riyad Mahrez: 5/10
Mahrez was sent to help City find an equaliser, but despite trying hard, could not make an impression.
