MX23RW : Friday, November 22 22:04:05| >> :120:8099:8099:

Everything you need to know about Champions League quarter-finalists Lyon

Everything you need to know about Champions League quarter-finalists Lyon
© Reuters
The French side take on Manchester City in Lisbon on Saturday.

Manchester City face Lyon in the Champions League quarter-finals at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon on Saturday.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the French side.

Reaching the last eight

Lyon upset the odds to see off a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Juve
Lyon upset the odds to see off a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Juve (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Lyon stunned perennial Serie A winners Juventus to reach the last eight for the first time in a decade. Les Gones beat the Italians 1-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie in February and then went through on away goals after a 2-1 defeat in Turin in the long-delayed second leg last week. They needed to survive a nail-biting finale as, after taking an early lead with a Memphis Depay penalty at the Allianz Stadium, Juve powered back with a Cristiano Ronaldo double. "We came up against an opponent who has an extraterrestrial in its squad," said relieved Lyon boss Rudi Garcia after his side held on.

Recent form

The glory of Lyon's progress to the reformatted last-eight tournament in Portugal masks the fact their recent form is poor. When Ligue 1 was abandoned in March due to Covid-19, Lyon were seventh in the table and reeling from a 5-1 defeat by Paris St Germain in the French Cup semi-finals and another loss to Lille. When the season was concluded with the French League Cup final in July, Lyon were beaten by PSG again, this time on penalties. Their last competitive victory came on March 1.

The dangermen

Under Garcia, who took charge in October, Lyon have been well organised, good at soaking up pressure and strong on the counter. The 56-year-old former Lille, Roma and Marseille coach succeeded Sylvinho, who lasted just five months in the post, although his appointment was not warmly welcomed by fans who had expected ex-PSG and France boss Laurent Blanc to get the job. Their main dangermen include former Celtic forward Moussa Dembele, who has scored 24 goals this season, and one-time Manchester United player Depay, fit again after a cruciate ligament injury.

Past meetings

Maxwel Cornet (right) has a good record against City
Maxwel Cornet (right) has a good record against City (Martin Rickett/PA)

City met Lyon in the group stages last season and failed to get the better of them. Lyon, then coached by Bruno Genesio, claimed a surprise 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium in the opening game and City needed to come from behind twice to draw 2-2 at the Groupama Stadium. Star players such as Tanguy Ndombele, Ferland Mendy and Nabil Fekir have since left the club but Ivory Coast international Maxwell Cornet, who scored three of Lyon's four goals against City last term, is still part of the side. Centre-back Jason Denayer was on City's books from 2013-18 but never made a first-team appearance.

Champions League history

Lyon have plenty of Champions League pedigree with the current campaign being their 16th in the competition – four more than any other French club – and fourth in five seasons. It is the fourth time they have reached the last eight but only once have they gone on to reach the semi-finals, in 2010.

ID:410280: cacheID:410280:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9533:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Kyle walker in action for Manchester City against Real Madrid in the Champions League in August 2020
Read Next:
Kyle Walker: 'Manchester City need to win the Champions League'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Steelers
19-24
Browns
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!