the club's first entry into european competition came in 2016, when - as runners-up in the 2015 fa wsl - they were given direct entry to the knockout stages of the 2016–17 uefa women's champions league. given several easier draws, city managed to progress to the semi-finals, where they met the holders lyon. despite a creditable win in the away leg thanks to a goal from fifa world player of the year carli lloyd they were beaten over two legs and went out at that stage. history would repeat itself the following season, when lyon again knocked city out at the semi-final stage once again, though with only a single goal across both legs dividing the two teams. in both cases, lyon went on to win the competition.