City maybe favourites but will be well aware of the Lyon threat

Manchester City have had an impressive Champions League campaign so far.

They steamrolled their way through their group, which included Shaktar Donestk (who have made it to the Europa League semi-finals) and Atalanta who have been the competition’s dark horse.

That set them up for a last 16 tie with Real Madrid, a 2-1 win in the Santiago Bernabeu gave them a first leg advantage, and after a six month wait due to the Coronavirus pandemic, City booked their place in the last eight with another 2-1 victory at the Etihad.

Though they are La Liga champions, many critics would argue about the quality of the Real side Pep Guardiola’s team faced. But one thing that cannot be denied that it was a dominant display from Manchester City in the second leg.

They have had plenty of heartbreak in Europe’s top competition in recent years, most specifically in the last two seasons, when they were of course knocked out by Liverpool and Tottenham at the last eight stage.

But like in 2018 and 2019, Pep’s side go in the 2020 quarter-finals as one of the favourites to clinch the European Crown.

If City are to reach the Champions League semi-finals, they must do what they didn’t do in 2018 and 2019, win their last eight tie.

And this evening’s game will be a test, Lyon are by no means going to be a pushover.

In truth Manchester City already know that’s the case, Lyon were in their Champions League group last season and frustrated them. They beat them in Manchester 2-1 in the opening group game, which was followed by a 2-2 in the reverse fixture.

And Rudi Garcia’s side have had their fair share of scalps in this season’s competition, by winning away at this year’s semi-finalists RB Leipzig in the group, and also knocked out Juventus on away goals in the last 16.

Lyon pose a very strong attacking threat through their dynamic midfielder of Houssem Aouar and their front three of Maxwell Cornet,  ex-Celtic Striker, Moussa Dembele, and the former Dutch, Manchester United winger, Memphis Depay.

But Manchester City have an attack which is as strong as any side left in the competition. That statement is backed through their midfield of Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, who will depart Manchester City this month and the man who is tipped to step in Silva’s shoes, the youngster Phil Foden.

A lot too will be expected of City’s forwards too. Most notably Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, who have been remarkable in recent weeks. Sterling has notched up 11 goals since the restart, while Jesus has picked up five goals in his last seven matches in all competitions.

Should City prevail tonight, they will face up to Bayern Munich in the semi-final, a team who will be relishing this tie following their 8-2 demolition of Barcelona last night.

Under Manchester City (and Pep’s) standards this season has been below par, they basically surrendered their title at Christmas and finished an extremely disappointing 18 points behind Premier League champions Liverpool. But if City win the Champions League, it will make it an exceptional season, which may top that of their title winning seasons of 2018 and 2019.

But this evening’s game is only a one-legged tie, which means that there will be no second chances should they lose tomorrow night.

Regardless of what happens, Pep Guardiola is proud of the club has changed in the four years he has been there:

“Every year it’s growing. Not just results but everyone, every year the organisation is growing. The club is working day by day to get results, another part if working to be sustainabile and solid in the future. Results help to increase. The elite clubs will always bet there. Barca, Real Madrid Bayern. In knockout games, everything can happen. It’s difficult to beat big teams away from home but in one game anything can happen.”

If Manchester City do lose tonight the one positive is that they will be in the competition next season after they had their two year ban from UEFA overturned, but no doubt City will want to win it this year. They will want to do it for the fans who are unable to join them and cheer them on in Portugal.

Undoubtedly, this is Manchester City’s most important game so far of the season, but so too one of the most difficult games of the season.

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