Celtic and Rangers never like to have much in common. This week, they most certainly have. Forty eight hours after Celtic discovered mistakes which go unpunished in Scotland will be capitalised upon at elite level, Rangers suffered a similar fate.
The scoreline at Ibrox may not have matched Borussia Dortmund’s 7-1 mauling of the Scottish champions but the theme was the same. Lyon outclassed their hosts, to the point where a 4-1 win did Rangers a favour.
Lyon’s pace, power and counterattacking menace left Rangers grasping desperately for air. Rangers, who like to consider themselves as Europa League specialists, had no reply to such an efficient away performance.
In spells Lyon were a joy to watch; they were unquestionably allowed to be. The general unease which surrounds Philippe Clement and his unconvincing Rangers team feels unlikely to dissipate anytime soon. On this evidence, the Belgian manager is struggling to win hearts and minds. He badly needs a marquee result.
“4-1 is a really harsh result,” Clement claimed, somehow with a straight face. “We need to take our chances and defend better, one against one, than we did today. I don’t think we can create better chances but we need to kill those off.”
Clement used pre-match media duties to dismiss any notion Lyon represented favourable opposition. Pierre Sage’s team have taken just seven points from their first half dozen games in Ligue 1 despite heavy summer spending. Clement, in short, would not mind Lyon’s supposed troubles. Rangers are already a distant second in a city where being the runner-up provides no comfort whatsoever.
With Sir Alex Ferguson among the crowd, the game opened in peculiar circumstances. Rangers had briefly been the better team – James Tavernier missed one chance, Vaclav Cerny an even better one – before Malick Fofana curled the visitors into the lead. John Souttar’s block on Rayan Cherki fell straight at Fofana’s feet. Cherki and Fofana were to terrorise Rangers for the remainder of the match.
Shortly before this opening strike, Rangers’ ultra element had audibly irked even their fellow supporters with a pyrotechnic and firework display, alongside a banner in support of a couple of their number who presumably have been up to no good. Rangers are one of a number of clubs who have indulged this tedious, perma-boring element for too long. Another Uefa fine beckons.
On the field, Rangers responded impressively to Fofana’s goal. Lucas Perri, Lyon’s goalkeeper, dallied with Cyriel Dessers lurking in front of him. Tom Lawrence continued his fine recent form by stealing in to prod the ball home and restore parity.
Next, it was Rangers’ turn to apply calamity. Connor Barron was, in some people’s eyes, a surprise omission from Steve Clarke’s latest Scotland squad. Barron demonstrated his shortcomings in possession by gifting the ball to Fofana. After a quick break and clever jink inside, Fofana rolled the ball to Alexandre Lacazette. The Lyon captain afforded Jack Butland no chance.
Butland barely bothered to move as Lyon claimed a third in first-half stoppage time. Loose Rangers play had culminated in bundling the ball out for a series of throw-ins. Lyon worked the ball forward to Lacazette, who cut in from the left flank and lashed the ball beyond the former England goalkeeper from 22 yards.
It was a stunning finish, one which sapped the energy out of Ibrox. Lyon were playing with swagger. Lawrence failed to reappear for the second period after citing a hamstring issue.
Fofana notched Lyon’s fourth when the most credit was due to the outstanding Cherki. Quick feet from the 21-year-old bamboozled Barron. Cherki crossed to the back post, where Fofana had nipped in front of Tavernier for the simplest of scoring tasks.
Neraysho Kasanwirjo, who replaced Tavernier, headed from his own goalline as Corentin Tolisso sought to make it five. Duje Caleta-Car had struck the Rangers crossbar just seconds earlier. Lyon’s removal of Fofana and Cherki represented about the finest news of Clement’s evening at the office. That duo will cause headaches for far stronger teams.
Lacazette slammed wide. Lyon, season properly kickstarted, had no real need to add to their tally. Another one of Scottish football’s aristocrats had taken its turn to encounter a sobering European night. Back to the domestic comfort zone they go.
