Valencia drops to Europa League as Lyon, Gent pick up Group H wins

In the end, Valencia never stood a chance.

Valencia has dropped down into the Europa League after losing 2-0 to Lyon, crashing out of the Champions League group stage. Even if Valencia won, though, the result would have been the same, as KAA Gent defeated Zenit St Petersburg 2-1, securing a spot in the Round of 16 for the Belgian side.

It was Gary Neville's first game as manager of Los Che.

Valencia had a number of chances but were clearly outplayed, with Lyon controlling the match for large stretches. Goals from Maxwell Cornet and Alexandre Lacazette - one in each half - were enough for Lyon to pick up a win, but, sitting last in the group, the French outfit had no chance of qualifying anyway.

Meanwhile, over in Belgium, a 78th-minute strike from Danijel Milicevic proved enough for Gent, as Laurent Depoitre and Zenit striker Artem Dzyuba traded goals before Milicevic slotted home the game-winning effort.