Gary Neville’s Valencia crash out after Lyon loss
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Updated 09/12/2015 at 22:54 GMT
Champions League, Mestalla – Valencia 0, Olympique Lyon 2 (Cornet 37’, Lacazette 76’)
Valencia's new coach Gary Neville
Image credit: Reuters
Valencia slumped to a 2-0 home defeat against Lyon in Gary Neville’s first game in charge, with Maxwell Cornet and Alexandre Lacazette scoring either side of the break for the French visitors.
It’s not been a stellar season at the Mestalla so far, but there was a buzz of excitement as Neville took his seat at the start of a new era at the club. Valencia needed a result against the bottom side in the group and hope that Gent dropped points against group-winners Zenit St Petersburg in the other game, but as it turned out neither result went in the Spaniards’ favour.
The game started promisingly for Neville and his new side, with Shkodran Mustafi hitting the post with a header and then having a goal harshly ruled out for a foul just moments later... but that was as good as it good for Valencia.
Cornet put Lyon ahead with a beautiful strike midway through the first-half and being in the lead heading into the second 45 gave Lyon the chance to sit deep and play on the counter-attack, which they did to devastating effect.
Both Corner and Lacazette could have extended the visitors’ lead on the break, before the latter did pick out the bottom corner with a cool finish after a typically powerful run on the counter.
The second goal, coupled with news of Gent drawing with Zenit in the other game, knocked the stuffing out of Valencia, but Neville will hope that this turns out to be just an early setback in a long and successful managerial career.
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Lyon's forward Alexandre Lacazette (2R) celebrates with teammates during the UEFA Champions League football match Valencia CF vs Olympique Lyonnais at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on December 9, 2015.
Image credit: AFP
KEY MOMENTS
8’– POST – Mustafi comes forward for a corner and crashes a header back off the upright. So close to an opener!
9’ – NO GOAL – Again it's Mustafi who gets his head to a Valencia corner, but this time he hits the back of the net with a thumping header that glanced off the underside of the crossbar. The Valencia players wheel away in celebration, but the referee has spotted a foul and the goal is disallowed. There wasn't much in that at all.
37’– GOAL! Maxwell Cornet cuts in from the right, stands up the full-back and whips a peach of a strike right into the top corner. 1-0 Lyon.
68’ – CHANCE – Lyon break and very nearly make it 2-0 as Cornet's cross is fired over the bar by Lacazette. That was a tricky chance to take for the striker, but a timely warning for Valencia that they have to stay switched on at the back.
75’ – GOAL! Alexandre Lacazette makes it 2-0, bursting clear on the counter-attack, holding off the last man and picking out the bottom corner with a classy finish. Is that game over?
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Lyon's defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (L) heads a ball with Valencia's forward Paco Alcacer during the UEFA Champions League football match Valencia CF vs Olympique Lyonnais at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on December 9, 2015
Image credit: AFP
KEY STATS
Lyon spoil Gary Neville's European debut as a manager. They pick up their first CL victory of the season when their European campaign was already guaranteed to be over.
Alexandre Lacazette scores his fourth career CL goal and his second this season.
Lyon avoid completing their first ever CL campaign in which they fail to win a single match.
TALKING POINT
Was this result Gary Neville’s fault? The obvious answer is, no. This is a talented group of Valencia players, but they have struggled to gel this season – hence the opportunity for him to take charge in the first place – and it was always going to take more than a week for him to make an impact and turn things around. There were some moments for Neville to take heart from and his side really should have been allowed the first goal of the night, only to be denied by a harsh refereeing decision. However, once they fell behind it was always going to be difficult, as Lyon are a side almost perfectly suited to hitting teams on the break – and so it proved.
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Valencia's British coach Gary Neville (C) getures on the sidelines during the UEFA Champions League football match Valencia CF vs Olympique Lyonnais at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on December 9, 2015
Image credit: AFP
PLAYER RATINGS
Valencia: Jaume 8; Gayà 7, Abdennour 8, Mustafi 8, João Cancelo 7; Danilo 6, Parejo 6, Pérez 5; De Paul 6, Alcácer 7, Mina 6. Subs: Fuego 6, Negredo 6, Piatti 6.
Lyon: Lopes 8; Bedimo 7, Morel 7, Mapou 7, Rafael 7; Gonalons 6, Tolisso 6, Darder 6, Grenier 7; Lacazette 9, Cornet 9. Subs: Ghezzal 7, Beauvue 6, Kone 6.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Maxwell Cornet (Lyon) – The Lyon winger was sensational throughout, creating the pick of the chances in the first half, scoring a beauty of a goal and posing a constant menace on the counter-attack after the interval. Lacazette was very good for the visitors too, but Cornet’s goal was the highlight of the night and edges him to the top of the pile on the night.
MATCH IN A TWEET
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