Philippe Clement was sadly proved correct by lethal Lyon.
The Rangers manager knew his team faced a massive test to get anything from the French flyers and so it proved as the Belgian boss and his team were savagely sunk. Clement‘s tearaway countryman Malick Fofana was chief tormentor. The teenager was magnificent to score twice and have a hand in two more for skipper Alexandre Lacazette during a scintillating show. That stylish Lyon quartet rendered Tom Lawrence’s early levelling strike meaningless as the Ligue 1 team showed their power and panache.
Rangers were too good for Malmo in their opening match of the section, but this was next level opposition and Pierre Sage’s team could have won by more. There were no arguments with the outcome. Vaclav Cerny missed a howler at 0-0 and Connor Barron made a big mistake to allow Lyon to restore their lead, but the match was over as a contest before the hour mark with Lyon in control.
They bossed it once a whirlwind start subsided. James Tavernier, making his 49th Europa League appearance, surged into the box and had a shot saved before that staggering miss from Cerny. Lawrence’s strike forced a stop from keeper Lucas Perri, but he pushed it straight into the path of the Czech.
Cerny had a simple task to net, but knocked over a sitter. It was an astounding miss and his team would pay a heavy price moments later down the other end when Fofana coolly knocked Lyon into the lead.
Lyon issued a warning when Jack Butland beat away Lacazette’s effort, but the Belgian left the Rangers No.1 with no chance as he curled into the bottom corner. It was a brutal blow for Rangers, but their response was impressive and Lawrence quickly levelled.
Corentin Tolisso’s miserable back header was short and, with Cyriel Dessers in there causing problems, the midfielder followed up to rifle home. It was the ideal riposte, yet another big error, this time from Barron, helped Lyon reclaim their advantage.
The midfielder’s loose pass in midfield was picked off by Fofana who surged into the box before checking his run and picking out his captain. Lacazette was casual as he stroked home. Fofana, who was stunning, had a strike saved by Butland before joining forces with Cherki to feed Lacazette on the stroke of half-time.
From outside of the box, his dipping strike was vicious and clinical. A VAR couldn’t save Rangers and the mountain was too steep heading out for the restart. Lawrence didn’t reappear and it was four after more magic from Cherki when he dazzled away from Barron and provided a centre for Fofana to tap home.
It was in danger of being a rout and sub Neraysho Kasanwirjo, put on for the toiling Tavernier, had to clear Tolisso’s rebound off the line after Duje Caleta-Car headed against the bar. Sub Kieran Dowell had a fierce strike saved by Perri, but the game was long gone with Butland making saves to prevent Lyon adding to their tally.
Financial worlds apart
Clement spoke prior to the match about the different world between his club and Lyon when it comes to finances and little wonder. With the French spending around £120 million in the summer, coach Sage could leave big hitters on his bench at the beginning.
Rangers competed as hard as they could and fought, but the little touches and flashes of class from the French were just sublime and to a high level.
Fofana had the craft to go with his blistering pace and Lyon littered their show with virtuoso moments, such as Cherki’s drag and nutmeg of Jefte and Tolisso’s beautiful double-touch pass to get the ball into Lacazette for his sumptuous second goal. In a flash, the game can be taken away and the quality of that third Lyon effort on the stroke of half-time was of the highest order in creation and execution.
Lawro looks the business
Lawrence is having the most-fruitful time of his Ibrox career as he really starts to make a serious mark on the No.10 position. There has been a menace around his play in recent weeks and the signs were again positive during the first period.
Lawrence got the shot off which brought about the awful Cerny miss and he was in there when it hurt to take advantage of Tolisso’s woeful back header. That was a fourth goal in seven games and, at a time when Clement has needed a contribution from the playmaker role, the 30-year-old is bringing it and it was a real shame that he was not able to reappear after the interval having taken a knock when netting.
Sore one for Barron
The Rangers midfielder has been terrific since signing and his first-half error was uncharacteristic. He didn’t need to be told as he held his hand up straight away.
Barron committed the ultimate sin in the middle of the park by playing a pass across his own half blind and it was pounced upon in the most-savage fashion. It was a real test of character for the ex-Aberdeen star and the response from him was going to be telling. It was a good sign for Clement that he never shied away, but it was an uphill task from there.
There was no shirking or disappearing following his lapse, but it was a toil and a crunching second-half challenge on Tolisso brought a yellow card as the night got worse. In the end, he was taken off for Nicolas Raskin and this was a tough evening where he will have learned plenty.
Wide gap between the wide boys
Ally McCoist’s name was chanted by the fans after he was announced as in the stadium following the collection of his OBE and Cerny could have done with the lethal touch of the ex-striker when he fluffed his lines massively at 0-0. The Czech has been signed to affect big games and it was a huge opportunity to get his team off to a flyer.
Cerny and Nedim Bajrami toiled to make a serious impact throughout with their counterparts Cherki and Fofana breathtaking at times down the other end as they moved with both pace and intent. Both Fofana and Cherki were stunning. Fofana scored two and was involved in two, Cherki involved in a trio of the goals and some of his work was magical. Cerny and Bajrami had no chance of outshining this dazzling Lyon pair, but they will need to deliver in the weeks ahead.
Flares and fireworks
Rangers could do without a financial punishment from the UEFA, but that is exactly what they are going to get after the actions of some supporters in the Copland Road Stand. The pyro show was quite enough to land the Ibrox team in the dock. However, the sight of fireworks seeming to sizzle out of the section and into the air will no doubt just ratchet up the level of the fine.
Referee Sven Jablonski halted proceedings for a brief moment until sure there were going to be no more, but there will be no halting the exit of cash for the club’s coffers when Europe’s football chiefs do their report. It seems utterly ridiculous it can happen and, more importantly, highly dangerous as a loose one could cause a fellow fan serious injury.