UCL: LYON STUN MANCITY AS MADRID, JUVE, AJAX, BAYERN, MANUNITED WIN COMFORTABLY

Thursday 20th September 2018
By Aiden Graw
www.mknewslink.com
SPORTS NEWS:
Manchester City made an awful start to their Champions League campaign as they suffered a shock defeat at home to Lyon in Group F
Manchester City 1-2 Lyon
Maxwel Cornet and Nabil Fekir netted in the first half for Lyon. Bernardo Silva pulled one back with 23 minutes to go but City were beaten.
Manchester City paid the price for an error-strewn first-half display as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Lyon in their Champions League opener.
The Premier League champions lacked intensity and fell behind when Maxwel Cornet finished in the 26th minute.
Nabil Fekir, who came close to joining Liverpool in the summer, made it 2-0 when he seized on a defensive mistake and fired in from 20 yards before half-time.
City dominated possession in the second half but only managed to pull one goal back in the 67th minute through Bernardo Silva.
Pep Guardiola, who was watching from the stands due to a touchline ban, cut a frustrated figure as his side laboured, particularly in the first half.
They did go close as Fernandinho blazed over from the penalty spot and Aymeric Laporte headed against the post, but too many passes went astray and the defence looked susceptible to Lyon’s pace on the counter.
It was a City mistake that led to the opener as the ball was given away in midfield, Fekir broke down the left and Cornet finished well after Delph made a mess of his attempted clearance.
Wednesday Results:
Group E
Ajax 3-0 AEK Athens
After Nicolás Tagliafico turned in David Neres’s pass moments after half-time, Ajax continued to push and substitute Donny van de Beek made it two from Dušan Tadić’s centre. Tagliafico’s cross floated in near the end for the third.
Benfica 0-2 Bayern München
Robert Lewandowski shot Bayern ahead in the tenth minute and early in the second half Benfica youth product Renato Sanches, given a start against his old side, made it two after starting and finishing a fine move.

Group F
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 Hoffenheim
Shakhtar twice came from behind to ensure the points were shared with the group-stage debutants. Florian Grillitsch chipped in early for Hoffenheim and although Ismaily equalised with a fine solo effort, Håvard Nordtveit headed the visitors into a half-time lead. The second equaliser came late when sub Maycon struck from distance.

Group G
Viktoria Plzeň 2-2 CSKA Moskva
The Czech champions looked set for a winning start thanks to two first-half goals from Michael Krmenčík, the second a brilliant flicked finish from an equally fine cross by David Limberský. However, Fedor Chalov pulled one back early and then, deep in added time, Nikola Vlašić converted a penalty after Jan Kovařík fouled Mário Fernandes.
Real Madrid 3-0 Roma
Madrid’s bid for a fourth straight title, but first of the post-Zidane and Ronaldo era, began with victory. Isco curled in a free-kick just before half-time, and close to the hour Gareth Bale ran onto a superb Luka Modrić ball and made no mistake. Near the end, sub Mariano Díaz – Ronaldo’s successor as Madrid No7 – produced an excellent finish for the third.

Group H
Valencia 0-2 Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo’s European debut for Juve was ended by a 29th-minute red card, his first in the UEFA Champions League, but Miralem Pjanić converted penalties either side of half-time to ensure victory.

Young Boys 0-3 Manchester United
Paul Pogba came to the fore in Berne as he scored twice in the last ten minutes of the first half, the second a penalty, before setting up Anthony Martial for the third.

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