Lyon captain Alexandre Lacazette scored a wonder goal as he and Malick Fofana scored twice in a punishing 4-1 Europa League defeat for Rangers at Ibrox.
James Tavernier spurned an early chance, before Vlacav Cerny missed a sitter from seven yards, only for Lyon to go in front moments later through Fofana’s cool finish after Rayan Cherki’s excellent close control and assist.
Rangers hit back almost instantaneously with Tom Lawrence getting his second goal in consecutive games before he ws replaced at half-time with an injury. The midfielder capitalised after Cyriel Dessers failed to convert following a disastrous Corentin Tolisso header back toward goal.
But Lyon were back in front before the game reached the midway point after Connor Barron’s blind pass was latched on to by Belgian teenager Fofana, who dribbled towards the area and squared for Lacazette to calmly slot home.
The highlight of the first half was still to come with Lacazette scoring a screamer from outside of the box.
The Lyon skipper cut across from the left before unleashing a right-footed effort that flew across Jack Butland and into the top corner in first-half added time.
Fofana slotted home the fourth early in the second half after more great work from Cherki, and though Lyon remained unsteady in defence at times, their attacking threat was constant, with Duje Caleta-Car hitting the bar with a header before Rangers substitute Neraysho Kasanwirjo cleared Tolisso’s header off the line.
Rangers kept going forward and Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri made a good save from a Kieran Dowell volley. But Butland was forced to prevent substitute Said Benrahma making it five late on with a fine block, and Lyon’s threat did not end until the final whistle confirmed a chastening defeat for the Ibrox men.
Butland: Lyon have talent but we caused our own issues
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland to TNT Sports:
“They have got some serious individual quality. The disappointment for us is that we gave them too many opportunities to showcase that.
“I wish we could do it over again because I think, you hate to say it, but there was a different approach that we needed or there wasn’t quite enough from us in those moments to cut out the attack, make a foul stop them from getting in their stride.
“So the disappointment is we gave them some easy opportunities to showcase some serious individual talent. In that sense, it probably feels like one that looks worse than it is, but we caused our own issues.”
Clement: A really harsh result
Rangers boss Philippe Clement shares his thoughts on Rangers’ 4-1 defeat to Lyon
Rangers manager Philippe Clement:
“I think we started the game with good intentions, with good intensity, with good quality also.
“To put fire in the stands, to have an amazing European evening, when you have two 100 per cent chances, the first two chances of the game, you need to kill them off to get a special European night.
“We did a lot of good things, but the goalkeeper made a really good save for the chance of Tav, but he could have put the ball also sideways, where we have two players totally free to tap the ball in, and Vaclav is also a tap-in to a free goal.
“So I don’t think we can do much more than creating those kinds of chances, I don’t think you can create better chances than that, but you need to kill them off. Against teams with this quality, you don’t get so many chances, so that’s disappointing.
“But 1-4 is a really harsh result, if you see. In the end, it’s the same amount of chances that both teams have, and we had more in the first half, but it was 1-3 with half-time, and that’s the difference in quality. So it’s a big working point for us.”
Boyd: Lyon front three ‘ripped Rangers apart’
Sky Sports’ Kris Boyd:
“The front three of Lacazette, Cherki and Fofana ripped Rangers apart – they were outstanding. Rangers struggled with their pace and trickery. It was four, it could have been more.
“It’s hard to believe Rangers have lost 4-1 in Europe and it’s not even the worst result in Europe for a Scottish team this week.
“Rangers don’t control games at their tempo. It’s either really slow or hectic. The turnover in possession for Rangers was really poor. That is something to build on.
“It’s a big couple of weeks coming up for Rangers.”
