Valencia 0-2 Lyon
- Published
Gary Neville's first game as Valencia manager ended in defeat as the Spanish side lost 2-0 at home to Lyon to go out of the Champions League.
The hosts hit the post early on through defender Mustafi, who then had a goal disallowed for a push in the area.
Maxwell Cornet curled in a shot for Lyon before the break and Alexandre Lacazette calmly added their second.
"We must take defeat on the chin and realise it is unacceptable to lose at Mestalla," said Neville afterwards.
Joined in the dugout by his brother and assistant manager Phil, Neville was animated on the touchline and said the game could have been different had Mustafi's early goal been given.
"The players thought it was not a foul," added Neville, whose side drop into the Europa League. "I used to whinge a lot as a player, but won't blame referees as a manager unless I feel I have to. Tonight I don't as Lyon did well."
First game in management, but Neville 'didn't feel stressed at all'
A suit and a first taste of home anger
Valencia rallied for their new manager with 11 shots after half-time, but in the end the result was irrelevant as Gent's win over Zenit St Petersburg ensured the Spanish side would not have qualified even if they had won.
Neville, wearing a suit, stood in his technical area throughout much of his managerial bow but his side were jeered in parts by the home support, who have now seen Los Che win just once in six outings.
"We showed a lot of spirit and fight but didn't really create enough chances to win the game," added Neville, who succeeded Nuno Espirito Santo last week.
"I didn't feel stressed at all. I don't feel stress now. I'm disappointed."
Manchester United in Europe?
Three straight Champions League defeats, without scoring a goal, have ruined Valencia's European campaign and a number of injuries to first-team members did not help Neville in his first game.
They will return to La Liga action five points adrift of the qualification places for next year's competition but will be in this season's Europa League.
Valencia could meet Neville's old club Manchester United in that competition but, still smarting from the defeat, he said "at this moment I couldn't care whether we play Manchester United or someone else".
Roma's ugly route through
Bayer Leverkusen saw Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen produce two stunning second-half saves in their 1-1 draw with the defending champions - a result which sees the German side eliminated.
Javier Hernandez struck his 12th goal in 11 club games to level Lionel Messi's early strike.
Roma, who drew 0-0 with BATE Borisov, finished second in the group on six points. Their tally equals the record low for any side reaching the knockout stages since the tournament moved to three points for a win.
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