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Louise Thomas
Editor
Gary Neville was unable to work miracles in his first match as Valencia manager. His side lost 2-0 at home to Lyons and have now dropped down to the Europa League.
Neville could have a reunion with former side Manchester United in the second-tier European competition in the next round.
The Europa League draw takes place on Monday following the Champions League draw, and Neville's Valencia could face United as they will be unseeded in the draw because of their poorer points total from the group stage. Of the eight Champions League teams that dropped down to the Champions League, four are seeded and four unseeded. As United won eight points in their group, they joined the seeded section of the draw alongside Porto, Olympiakos and Bayer Leverkusen.
In tonight's match, Maxwel Cornet and Alexandre Lacazette scored a goal in each half to give already-eliminated Lyons their first win in the competition this season and end Valencia's chances of advancing to the knockout stage.
Not even a win would have been enough as Gent defeated Zenit St. Petersburg 2-1 in Belgium to secure second place in Group H and a spot in the round of 16.
Zenit won the group with 15 points from six games, five points ahead of Gent. Valencia finished third with six points, good enough for a spot in the Europe League. Lyon were last in the group with four points.
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