These are perhaps the two most important stages of football played by Manchester City with Pep Guardiola. There were original tactics, of course, but all this accompanied by a mixture of quality, competition and commitment to the plan, from the brilliant victory at the Bernabéu to the pinnacle of the paintings in an empty Etihad.
The City’s triumph over Real Madrid in this year’s Champions League circular 16 will be a historic reference for the club, as it builds its position on the most sensible European table.
The fact that they sealed the deal so impressively in the back stage in a while after the cancellation of their ban on the festival next season made things even softer.
His accolades are the quarter-finals with Lyon in Lisbon and then, if they qualify for the semi-finals, a successful matchup with one of the former teams of Pep Guardiola, Barcelona or Bayern Munich.
Having defeated their former rival, Real Madrid in the eighth round, the date of fate opposed to their former patrons in the eighth round added to what becomes a stratified story for City in this Champions League campaign.
They are the favorites to lift the trophy for the first time in their history on August 23 and for a team that, just a few months ago, seemed about to be kicked out of next year’s festival, and for a technician heavily criticized for his underperforming in the Champions League since the intoxicating days of his stage in Barcelona , is like an opportunity to dream.
But city enthusiasts know very well that it’s silly to take something for granted in this competition. “It’s a step,” Guardiola said after giving Zinedine Zidane his first Champions League knockout defeat as Real Madrid manager. “If we think that’s enough, let’s show how small we are.”
Yes, they will be great favourites to see a Lyon who seventh in Ligue 1 when the French season was truned, a Lyon humiliated 5-0 through the PSG in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France before wasting consequences contrary to the same opposition. in the French League Cup two weeks ago, and a Lyon team making their first appearance at this level of the Champions League in a decade.
However, returning to the last 3 seasons of The City in the Champions League triggers caution.
In 2016/17, City, after which he gave the impression of being a historic victory over Barcelona in the organizational stage, launched the caution – and the defensive solidity – in the circular of 16 and blew a two-goal merit over Monaco, secured in a chaotic victory of 5. 3 in the Etihad, with a 3-1 defeat in the principality.
The following year, they were left off guard during a 30-minute bombing at Anfield in the first leg of the quarter-finals through a Liverpool team that eventually finished 25 premier league tracks.
Tottenham finished 27 numbers the city name winners in the 2018/19 rankings, although they also left Guardiola’s asking ‘and if’ in the quarter-finals a year later after exciting matches affected by the VAR.
This season’s fear will be that of men with relationships beyond Manchester United and, potentially, the long haul can disappoint the ideal situation for the City.
Lyon captain Memphis Depay showed the creativity, skill and audacity that first attracted United to him with his Panenka penalty in the 16th round-trip match with Juventus, before the penalty he gave at the other end, which confused the French team. Array reminded us of the frustrations it also brings to the table.
However, with six goals in six consecutive Champions League appearances, he will be a threat, as will the goal-scoring ability of former Celtic star Moussa Dembele, who has been connected with a replacement for Old Trafford.
Top scorer Dembélé went to the bench for last week’s draw with Juventus, and expressed his dislike in warm-up, before replacing Depay in the middle of the moment, but chances are Lyon wants two stars to tie if they want to capitalize on their opportunities. path on the exclusive connection to the city.
At the other end of the field, Rafael is the former United player to face, while Jason Denayer will have his own motivation.
The city academy graduate has had a number of loan terms and has not appeared in the first team in the city to show his first 4 years as a senior professional, but since then he has established himself as the first selection of the central defense of the Lyon baseline.
And on the band line, Lyon will be rounded up through a coach who knows how to win. Rudi García led Lille to the Ligue 1-Coupe de France double in 2010/11, before the days of PSG’s dominance, and led Marseille to the Europa League final in 2018.
On paper, the City has the advantages but in truth this Lyon has the equipment to bring the City back to earth with a smack after the heights of this victory against Real Madrid. The Guardiola team can’t be complacent.