Expectations will be sky high when English champions Manchester City face Lyon in the opening match of their Champions League campaign at the Etihad on Wednesday. The Group F opener will present an enthralling battle between Pep Guardiola’s men and the French giants as both teams must aim to begin their European adventure on a positive note.
City and Lyon have never faced each other in the Champions League before but both the teams have become regular participants in the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition. Champions of England for the third time in seven seasons, City have reached the knockout rounds for the last five seasons. In contrast, Lyon have not reached the Round of 16 since 2011/12 but they do boast plenty of European know-how ahead of their first meeting.
Guardiola’s men looked impressive in their European campaign last season, before losing out to eventual runners-up Liverpool in the quarter-final. Although the Sky Blues have established themselves as powerhouses in the Premier League, the Champions League trophy has somehow eluded City. Their best performance was reaching the semi-final in the 2015/16 edition.
City are among the only three teams to remain unbeaten in the ongoing season Premier League season, the other two being Chelsea and Liverpool. Barring the odd slip-up against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where the champions were held to a 1-1 draw, it has been goals galore for City in the top-flight. Guardiola’s men have been in tremendous goalscoring form, having scored 14 goals in their first five matches so far.
On the other hand, the rise of Paris Saint-Germain, AS Monaco and Marseille have limited Lyon’s success in the Ligue 1. In fact, they last won the Ligue 1 back in 2007/08 and finished 3rd last season. Furthermore, they are yet to hit the ground running this season, having won only two out of their first five games in the French top-flight. They do not have a good scoring record either, having scored only 6 goals so far.
Given the fact that Lyon haven’t been in good form in the Ligue 1 and have struggled to make it past the group stages of the Champions League in recent times, it might prove to be one of City’s easier games.
However, two of City’s standout performers, Benjamin Mendy and Sergio Aguero, are doubtful for the Champions League with minor injuries. Understandably, Guardiola is reluctant to risk either of his stars considering the hectic schedule of the season that lies ahead (h/t Evening Standard).
In their absence, Bernardo Silva should be City’s key player in the attacking third. The versatile Portuguese youngster has been in red-hot form in the Premier League, starting four of City’s first five games and has been influential with his incisive passes and subtle movement. He currently averages 1.4 key passes and 1.8 shots per game in the league. Those are good numbers, considering Pep Guardiola has deployed him in a number of positions in the attacking third. Indeed, acquiring his services for a fee of £43m does seem like a bargain now!
City are definitely the bookmaker’s favourites to win against Lyon. Although the Sky Blues find themselves in a relatively easy group along with Shakhtar Donetsk and Hoffenheim, it will be important for them to pick up all three points from their opening clash.
