Three minutes of added time signaled by the referee and most of the Mestalla has already began to filter out into the streets, that is of course with the exeption of the pocket of Lyon fans, who have made the trip from France to see an impressive win.
88'
You have to hand it to Lyon, as the visitors have been superb in their counterattacking and attitude tonight, and it is all the more impressive when you consider than they have been on a five-match losing streak and had absolutely nothing to play for heading into the game. They deserve some credit - if only they played like this the whole group!
86'
Gary Neville can be seen on the touchline now as he still continues to try and implement some confidence in his players with some slick passing. Highly doubtful his management skills would have had an impact on tonight's performance due to his short tenure, but their is still plenty to play for in the Europa League and domestically.
84'
PAREJO GOES CLOSE! The Valencia captain, who has been on of Valencia's slightly better performers, collects a loose ball around 25 yards out and lashing a strike at goal aimed towards the bottom corner. Much like Los Che's night, though, it disappoints.
82'
Valencia are looking at the need for a miracle if they are to somehow progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Not only do they need to come back from two goals behind at the Mestalla to win 3-2, but they also need Zenit to claw a goal back against Gent, even though the group leaders have absolutely nothing to pay for. You wouldn't exactly put your mortgage on it...
80'
Ten minutes remaining now and luckily for Valencia, it looks like their abject performance in this match will not ultimately prove to be the catalyst for their downfall, as Gent have once again took the lead at home to Zenit, which assures the Belgian side of second place if they can hold out for the victory. Still, Los Che should still have got the job done on their own patch.
78'
Third and final change from the Ligue 1 outfit and it sees Sergi Darder, who has put in a tireless performance in midfield for the majority of the game, make way for Bakary Kone, who could indeed add some even more pace on the counterattack for Lyon. They couldn't make it 3-0 could they?
77'
B. Koné enters the game and replaces Darder.
C. Beauvue enters the game and replaces A. Lacazette.
Unfortunately for Lyon, it looks like Lacazette actually picked up an injury whilst flashing that strike past Domenench, and is forced off for the last 10 minutes or so. Coming on is Claudio Beauvue.
76'
A. Lacazette has scored a goal for Lyon! Assist by C. Tolisso.
Some wonderful work from Corentin Tolisso as he cuts through the heart of the Valencia midfield with a penetrating run before threading a pass through for Lazacatte!
GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL FOR LYON! AN INCSIVE BREAKAWAY! Valencia lose possession poorly in the final third and the visitors take advantage to counterattack at tremendous pace! Tolisso leads the charge and eventually releases Lacazette, who leaves Abdennour for dead before lashing a perfect left-footed finish into the bottom corner! Two-nil! Valencia's Champions League dream ends!
75'
P. Piatti enters the game and replaces R. De Paul.
Another alteration from the home side and it sees the ineffectual De Paul make way for Pablo Piatti.
Minute
Description
74'
PAREJO! HOW CLOSE WAS THAT?! A corner kick is teased dangerously to the back post and the ball falls to the Valencia captain, who takes an assured touch before screwing a half volley wide of the mark whilst slightly off balance! He just didn't get a decent connection on it, and Lyon survive!
72'
DARDER SHOULD BE SCORING! Lyon's counterattacks have been looking increasingly more dangerous in the last few minutes, and they almost benefit from the tactic to go 2-0 up as Lacazette drives forward with pace before releasing his team-mate completely unmarked in the middle, but Domenech comes to Valencia's rescue again with a save with his feet! Still 1-0! That was almost game over!
70'
R. Ghezzal enters the game and replaces C. Grenier.
First change of the match from Lyon and it sees Grenier, who has put in a great shift down the left wing, make way for the oncoming Rachid Ghezzal, who will certainly add some speed on the counterattack for the Ligue 1 side.
68'
C. Tolisso gets yellow.
A Lyon booking here and it is a deserved one for Tolisso, who comes right through the back of Parejo in the middle of the park, who was attempting to turn and release a pass down the left wing for Santi Mina.
66'
There are musings coming from the Mestalla faithful and it is clear that the Valencia fans have just found out that Zenit have EQUALISED away to Gent in Belgium, which makes that scoreline currently sitting at 1-1. If Valencia can somehow mount a comeback here at home, then they will be through! Zenit are doing their bit, but Los Che aren't doing theirs!
64'
Cornet, who has been a thorn in the side all night for Valencia, almost inflicts more punishment on the hosts as he gets in behind the defence to display his electric pace with a dash towards goal. He just languishes on the ball ever so slightly, though, which allows Abdennour to sprint back and make the all-important last ditch tackle!
62'
Santi Mina stretches his legs down the right touchline and attempts to burst into the penalty, but is foiled by the retreating Darder, who does brilliantly to burst a gut and get back to snatch the ball away from the feet of the Valencia attacker. Some superb defensive work there!
60'
It is nearly the classic commentator's curse at the Mestalla as just moments after Lopes was praised for his performance so far, the Lyon goalkeeper almost gifts Valencia a route back into the game by dropping the ball a yard or two out from goal! Luckily for him, his defenders stopped any potential strikers getting on the end of it!
58'
Valencia are really turning the screw in their attempts to find a vital equaliser. Since the break, all the play has been going towards the Lyon goal as Los Che add a little more tempo and intensity in their play, but they are up against an in-form Lopes tonight, so it may take something special, or indeed a mistake, for them to claw a goal back!
56'
The 21-year-old is involved in the action once again for Valencia, this time down the left wing. On this occasion he collects possession before darting into the middle on to his stronger foot, looking for a yard of space to get a shot away. He eventually takes one too many touches, which ends up seeing Lyon reclaiming possession, much to the frustration of Alcacer and Negredo.
54'
De Paul picks up the ball in a useful position down the right touchline and jinks the ball past Grenier, but not before going down under the slight challenge from the Lyon midfielder. There was barely any kind of meaningful contact, but the hosts are awarded the free kick after some acting from their winger.
52'
Álvaro Negredo enters the game and replaces Danilo Barbosa.
First change of the match from Neville and it will see Danilo, who has been disappointing, make way for Alvary Negredo, in what is a positive alteration from the Englishman.
51'
It has to be said that the linesmans haven't covered themselves in glory tonight, as there have been a few offside calls which have been marginal at best in favour of the striker that have actually went against the attacking team. It is all making for a rather fragmented period of play at the moment,
49'
Valencia look like they have come out after the break with a little more impetus and tempo in their passing, so there may have been some words of wisdom from the new boss in the dressing room, Neville. Remains to be seen whether they will create more chances, but some encouraging signs.
47'
Danilo, who had a rather quiet first half, drives through the middle with a penetrating run and eventually gets beyond Gonalons before attempting to pick out the pass into the final third. He is eventually brought down by Tolisso and Valencia get the free kick, but it is wasted after an offside at the back post on Mustafi.
46'
We are back under way at the Mestalla!
45'
Valencia are really losing their discipline now and Santi Mina is the latest guilty party as he needlessly scythes down Gonalons just outside the centre circle. Another stupid challenge, as the Lyon midfielder wasn't going anywhere!
44'
Santi Mina gets yellow.
43'
There shouldn't be too much added time calculated by the official before half-time here as we haven't seem too many stoppages other than the goal, which was a spectacular one by Cornet. Valencia really could be doing with a goal before they suffer the wrath of the home crowd leaving for the break.
41'
Alcacer pops up in his favourite position around the opposition penalty area and receives the ball to feet before turning sharply in an attempt to get the shot away. He eventually goes down under the double-challenge of Yanga-Mbiwa and Rafael, but there was nothing in it and the referee shares this view as he fails to point to the spot - despite the protests of the Mestalla crowd.
39'
Valencia need to make sure that, despite being a goal down, they don't lose their heads here as their is still plenty of time to get back into this. Mustafi, however, didn't get the memo and goes into the book after a cynical pull on the shirt of Lacazette in a nothing position in the middle of midfield. Daft reason to see yellow, really, especially with everything at stake!
38'
S. Mustafi gets yellow.
37'
M. Cornet has scored a goal for Lyon! Assist by M. Gonalons.
Gonalons grabs an assist as he glides through the middle of the park with ease before picking out Cornet with an incisive pass into the space on the right channel.
GOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLL FOR LYON! THE VISITORS TAKE A DESERVED LEAD! Cornet picks up possession down the right touchline and drives forward to take on Gaya before cutting inside on his left foot and picking out a peach of a strike into the top left corner! Domenech was rooted to the spot! One-nil!
35'
Valencia keep the ball in and around the penalty area with some lovely little passing and possession eventually comes to De Paul. The 21-year-old jinks past a couple of challenges and attempts to give the goalkeeper the eyes with a curled finish towards the bottom corner, but Lopes reads it easily and comfortably gets down to make the save to the right.
33'
Just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half of this Champions League clash and we aren't really any closer to predicting who could potentially be leaving the Mestalla with all three points. Both goalkeepers have been tested in their respective goals, but it is Domenech who has been called into action more than his opposite number, perhaps surprisingly.
31'
WHAT A SAVE THAT IS FROM LOPES! This game is turning to a battle of the men between the sticks here as the Lyon keeper shows a spring in his step to somehow get across goal and claw away Alcacer's header after some brilliant work on the wing from De Paul! The Valencia striker was nearly celebrating as he was that sure it was going to nestle in the net, but we remain at a stalemate!
29'
Domenech is keeping this at all-square at the moment as he makes yet another stop to deny Lyon! This time, a free kick is wickedly curled in from the right wing which Rafael of all people manages to rise high to get a great connection on! The attempt flies towards the far corner, but the visitors are denied by the diving save of the Valencia goalkeeper!
27'
SAVE AGAIN FROM DOMENECH! Cornet opens up his stride down the right flank and eventually moves into the final third before lashing a cross into the box, which is palmed back into the danger area by the Valencia keeper! He does very well to get back up though in order to beat away Tolisso's rebound, which looked destined to find the net!
25'
We are just about midway through the first half now and we now see the first yellow card of the match. It comes to Abdennour, and deservedly so as the former Monaco defender completely takes out Cornet after the Lyon winger jinked in from the right wing. Some revenge for Perez going off there, perhaps?
24'
Javi Fuego enters the game and replaces E. Pérez.
A. Abdennour gets yellow.
Enzo Perez indeed won''t be able to continue even after some attention from the medical staff, and eventually trudges off the pitch to be replaced by Javi Fuego. That is a real blow to Valencia, but they still have the players out there to win this.
21'
Some worrying scenes for the hosts at the moment as Enzo Perez is currently down injured after a challenge involving Cornet down the left wing. It was actually the Valencia midfielder who made the tackle, but he went to the floor a few moments later and looks to have picked up a knock to his knee, which means his side will miss his creativity and endeavour in those central areas should he come off.
19'
Well, some bad news for Valencia fans here as news has came through that Gent have actually took the lead at home to Zenit in the other fixture in Group H. If the Belgian side can maintain that scoreline, then it won't matter what Los Che do here and they will be consigned to finishing in the Europa League qualifying position.
17'
Joao Cancelo goes on a marauding run down the right-hand side and eventually hits the byline before attempting to shift in to the penalty area. He ends up being brought down by Bedimo and the Mestalla faithful rise out of their seats in protest, but the referee sees nothing in the collision and waves play on.
15'
After Lyon's decent early spell at the start of the match, Valencia are just started to assert their dominance in the central areas through the presence of Parejo and Enzo Perez. The hosts are just finding it a little difficult to get the ball up to their main goalscorer, Paco Alcacer.
13'
Vital save by Domenech! Lyon catch Valencia off-guard and manage to get in behind the defence, with Cornet driving through on goal before attempting to squeeze a strike past the Valencia keeper, who makes the solid stop with his left foot! The home side are actually lucky that Gaya doesn't bring the Lyon man down inside the penalty box in the build up - it would have been a certain red card!
11'
GOOOOOAAAAAAALLL FOR VALENCIA! WAIT! NO! A FOUL HAS BEEN GIVEN! Mustafi proves himself a threat in the opposition penalty area once again as he directs a corner kick brilliantly over the line with a diving header. The hosts start to celebrate but play is brought back for an alleged foul by Abdennour! That looked harsh it has to be said!
9'
VALENCIA HIT THE POST! Mustafi rises high from a corner kick and bullets a header down towards the bottom corner, which ends up cannoning off the bottom of the woodwork! Los Che denied a perfect opening to the match!
7'
One aspect of Lyon's play that has been particularly noticeable so far has been their desire to play a very high defensive line, which is fine when in possession. However, Valencia pose great pace on the flanks with the likes of Gaya, De Paul, and Santi Mina bombing forward, so the visitors will need to be wary of that threat.
5'
Lyon have actually started the match pretty well here which is admirable considering they don't have anything to play for apart from pride. They have never went through a group stage of the Champions League without recording a victory, too, so they will want to keep that going at least.
3'
Lacazette collects the ball in a useful position down the right channel and subsequently slides a lovey pass into the space for Cornet. The latter then cuts back inside on his left foot before before whipping a cross into the area, but Mustafi is on hand to make the comfortable clearance, which catalyses a Valencia counterattack.
1'
We are under way at the Mestalla!
This will be the fourth time these two teams have played each other in the Champions League; all of the previous meetings have been won by Valencia.
So Gary Neville makes the choice on the starting XI for his first ever match in charge of a club. It sees just two changes from the weekend draw with Barcelona, with Ruben Vezo and Aderllan Santos making way for Cancelo and Mustafi.
Lyon, meanwhile, have been incredibly disappointing in the tournament this term and are rock bottom of the group with just one point registered so far, which came after a 1-1 draw away to Gent in September. The Ligue 1 side have never gone through a Champions League group stage without registering a win in their history, so they will be wanting to end any chance of this unwanted piece of history. However, in order to do so they will need to halt a run of five matches without a win in all competitions.
Under the ownership and investment of Lim, Valencia have aspirations of challenging in La Liga and also reaching the latter stages of the Champions League within a few years, but the project hasn't quite evolved to plan as of yet. They are currently five points off fourth position and the last Champions League place in the league, but are coming off the back of a confidence-boosting 1-1 draw at home to champions, Barcelona, who had been steam-rolling teams up until their trip to the Mestalla.
Neville's brother, Phil Neville, was a coach under the previous regime of Nuno, and along with Valencia chairman, Peter Lim, has clearly sounded out the Champions League winner for the position, which has now been undertaken. Neville has never managed at club level before, so it seems a rather daunting task to help save the season of one of Spain's biggest clubs, but his know-how of the game as a whole and his coaching work with the England national team will likely stand him in good stead. Tonight will be his first match in charge from the dugout, so no pressure then!
There may be a lot at stake for Valencia tonight, but the match has arguably been overshadowed by the newest managerial appointment from the Spanish Primera Division side. After a poor start to the campaign in domestic action and indeed in the Champions League, Nuno Espirito Santo was relieved of his duties a couple of weeks ago by the club hierarchy, who have instilled former Manchester United defender and television pundit, Gary Neville, as the new head coach.
Tonight's clash presents a must-win match for Los Che if they are to have any hope leapfrogging Gent in second place and subsequently progressing to the knockout stage of the competition. They are currently down in third with just six points and two wins from their opening five matches, and must also hope that the Belgian outfit don't come out as winners in the other Group H fixture tonight against Zenit.
Good evening football fans! Welcome to LIVE coverage of the Champions League Group H clash between Valencia and Lyon from the Mestalla!
The teams are making their way to the pitch and we are almost ready for the Champions League theme and kick-off!
Half time at the Mestalla. Valencia's Champions League campaign hangs in the balance as they go into the break 1-0 down at home to Lyon in this Group H clash. In Gary Neville's first match in charge of Los Che, the Englishman has seen some decent play in the final third, but it has been the Ligue 1 side who have threatened most from the get-go, and eventually grabbed a deserved lead through a brilliant Cornet goal. Still plenty to play for the hosts, but they need to win this game and also hope Zenit come back from a goal behind versus Gent, which doesn't look too likely at the moment! Second half to come!
Full time at the Mestalla. In his first match in charge, Gary Neville fails to guide Valencia through to the Champions League last-16 and is forced to settle for a Europa League place after a highly disappointing 2-0 loss at home to Lyon in Group H. All the spotlight was on Los Che tonight, and Lyon seemed to prosper in this situation as they played with freedom and scored in both halves through Cornet and Lacazette. The hosts mustered up a few decent opportunities, but never looked particularly likely to get the better of Lopes between the sticks for Lyon. In the end, Valencia would not have qualified even if they managed to win, as Zenit failed to beat Gent in the other fixture in the group. Thanks for joining us - we will see you in the knockout stages!
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