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Champions League: Reasons why Manchester City lost against Lyon
20 Sep 2018
Manchester City suffered a shocking 1-2 defeat against Lyon, at the Etihad, in their opening Champions League encounter of this season.
Lyon made full use of a couple of lapses from City players, as they scored two first-half goals.
Bernardo Silva pulled one back, but it wasn't enough, in the end.
Here we decode the reasons behind Manchester City's loss.
Slow start to the game cost City
Start
Man City were slow to get off their blocks and the players didn't get into a flow.
They lost duels and misplaced passes, as the pressure grew every time the ball was lost.
The hosts failed to create anything through the middle and Lyon's defensive attributes blunted them.
Known for quick intelligent passing play, City didn't turn up on the night.
Mistakes in crucial times cost City
Mistakes
Both goals came from mistakes and City were left to face the heat from the same.
Fabian Delph failed to cut out Fekir's cross which led to Cornet drilling the first goal in.
And moments later, a misplaced pass from Fernandinho, in his own half, saw Fekir strike a shot from 25 yards and the risk paid off.
No Pep, no gain!
Pep
City manager Pep Guardiola was in the stands due to his ban.
With him missing out the action, City players didn't get the instructions they are used to while playing games.
Assistant manager Mikel Arteta dismissed suggestions that the situation could have been different if Pep was present on the field.
City lacked the intensity and the intent in a poor first-half show.
UCL form a reason of worry for City
Form
City's wretched form in the Champions League could be another factor for their confidence being low.
This was their 3rd consecutive home loss in the tourney.
This was also City's 4th successive defeat in the competition.
City's positioning change in the second half in playing Silva from the middle and introduction of Leroy Sane fire down the wings saw them improve.
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