Sports
Man City humbled in 2-1 loss to Lyon in Champions League
Manchester City’s expensively-assembled team was humbled by Lyon in the Champions League on Wednesday, losing 2-1 at the start of its quest to win European football’s biggest prize for the first time.
Banned from the touchline and unable to communicate with the bench, City manager Pep Guardiola watched from the stands as the Premier League champions were easily picked apart by the French visitors at the start of the group stage.
Errors by midfielder Fernandinho led to both Lyon goals, typifying how sloppy City was against a team that finished third in the French league last season and was even held to a draw at the weekend by 10-man Caen.
When a pass by the Brazilian midfielder was intercepted around the halfway line, Lyon charged forward. Nabil Fekir sent in a cross from the left that evaded Fabian Delph’s swinging legs, allowing Maxwel Cornet to slot it home in the 26th minute. Delph held his head in his hands as the consequences of his mistake became clear.
City’s troubles deepened when Fernandinho was caught in possession again. Memphis Depay set Fekir on a run and the forward doubled Lyon’s lead in the 43rd.
City pulled one back in the 67th when Bernardo Silva scored from substitute Leroy Sane’s cutback. But the attacking threat was too patchy from a City side that won the Premier League with a record 100 points only four months ago.
But City fans still have a fraught relationship with the competition the club sees as its main target after a decade under Abu Dhabi ownership.
The Champions League anthem was again booed by the crowd — reflecting to ongoing bitterness over UEFA sanctioning the club for breaching spending rules — and there were swathes of empty seats in the Etihad Stadium.
Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer is ready to start against Pafos in the Champions League this week.
Palmer’s performance against Brentford was Palmer’s 13th appearance of what has been an injury-plagued campaign so far and was just the fourth time he has completed 90 minutes under both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
Fans were worried that the England star would not be ready to face Pafos after the 23-year-old was spotted clutching his groin shortly after the full-time whistle against the Bees.
However, football.london report that Palmer was on the grass with his teammates at Chelsea’s training base in Cobham and looked fine throughout the session, which is a huge boost for Rosenior and his side.
Chelsea are two points off the automatic last-16 places with two games to go and are competing in their fourth different tournament in the space of four games as Rosenior is pushed to the limit in his first few weeks at the club.
Palmer’s comeback from a groin injury that kept him out for over two months, from September to December, has restricted his game time and performances this season.
He is unlikely to start against Pafos but could feature off the bench late into the game as Rosenior tries to build his match fitness for what remains of the season.
Manchester City star Oscar Bobb is set to leave the club after being slowly forced out of the club.
Following the arrival of Antoine Semenyo, Bobb, who rarely featured under manager Pep Guardiola, has been pushed aside in recent weeks as the club seek to offload the teenager.
The 22-year-old has featured 19 times in 2025-26 following further injury concerns and despite his recent return, he has been absent from the side who are winless so far in 2026.
Now, as reported by journalist Ben Jacobs, Bobb is set to be sold as City cash in on the youngster who is very unlikely to be handed any more opportunities in the side.
“Oscar Bobb could leave Manchester City this month on a permanent transfer. As revealed in December, Fulham are keen.
“Discussions are now advancing, as @FabrizioRomano called.
“Dortmund also have Bobb on their radar.
“Manchester City prefer a sale to a loan and value Bobb in the region of £30m-£35m depending on the structure.
“Understand Bobb is now Fulham’s top priority. Fulham also still working on USMNT forward Ricardo Pepi despite his injury.”
Manchester United have made a move for Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac.
While they have Michael Carrick in place after sacking Ruben Amorim, United only see their former midfielder as a stop-gap to the end of the season.
Sky Deutschland says United have made contact with Kovac’s camp seeking information on the Croatian’s plans.
Kovac took charge of Dortmund a year ago and penned an extension to 2027 at the start of this season.
However, it’s understood the 54 year-old holds an ambition to work in the Premier League.
Dortmund sit second in the Bundesliga, 11 points off near-perfect Bayern, and are tenth in the Champions League.
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