Europa League: Rangers v Olympique Lyonnais
Date: Thursday, 3 October Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio Scotland, text updates on BBC Sport website & app
Rangers manager Philippe Clement suggests a draw at home to Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday would still be “a very, very good result” given the gulf in spending power between the clubs.
The Belgian was speaking in the wake of city rivals Celtic’s 7-1 Champions League thrashing away to Borussia Dortmund.
Clement nonetheless believes Rangers can follow up their fine 2-0 win away to Malmo in their Europa League opener – a score matched by Lyon at home to Olympiacos – with another victory.
Lyon, who sit 11th in Ligue 1, have otherwise had a mixed start to the season amid reports of financial problems.
“If that’s the case, I would like to have similar financial problems at Rangers,” Clement said.
“They have spent a lot on both experience and youth, buying guys for £25m. They bought two players for £34m combined. It’s a different world to us.”
Clement urged “realistic” expectations of his side, currently sitting third in the Scottish Premiership, and believes that Lyon are about the same level as Benfica, who defeated Rangers in the knockout stage of the competition last season.
“Winning against Lyon would be a huge thing,” he said. “Even a draw would be a very, very good result.
“We’ll go for the three points, but for that we need a few players to be above their level and have an amazing evening. We would also need the fans to be our 12th player and to bring us incredible energy.”
Clement realises how much it would mean to Rangers fans, as well as his players, to record a win over a club he believees has such depth they could field two good teams in the competition.
“These players have played for big clubs,” he said of the visitors. “These are always exciting nights for the fans.
“It can only make my players better. If you also look at the games against Seville and Benfica, my team needs experiences like that to become better.”
Team news
Mohamed Diomande is back in the Rangers squad after recovering from a knock that forced him to miss Sunday’s win over Hibernian.
Fellow midfielder Ianis Hagi is back training with the first-team following a contract dispute that means he has not played this season, but the Romania international is not part of the Ibrox club’s Europa League squad.
Danilo, Rabbi Matondo, Ridvan Yilmaz and Oscar Cortes remain sidelined for the hosts.
Lyon centre-half Moussa Niakhate was an unused substitute against Toulouse at the weekend after a spell out with an injury, while forwards Ernest Nuamah and Gift Orban were left out completely.
Former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette is expected to return to the starting line up in Glasgow.
What they said
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland: “The challenge, the underdog story, the people that don’t think you can – that’s something that always keeps this club coming back.
“If you want to write us off, go for it. We’ll relish the challenge – that’s something we’ve done in the European games and is something we’ll continue to do.
“We had a good away win last week and a win at the weekend, so confidence is high. If we can come away with something tomorrow night, we’re in a great place, but we’re looking to win the game.”
Match statistics
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Rangers and Lyon have faced one another four times in European competition, with the French side winning two of them – both at Ibrox – and the Glasgow outfit one.
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The sides drew their most recent meeting 1-1, a Europa League group-stage game in December 2021 in France, with Scott Wright’s opener cancelled out by a Calvin Bassey own goal.
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Lyon won the earlier reverse fixture 2-0, which is Rangers’ only home loss in their most recent 17 home games in the group/league stage of the Uefa Cup/Europa League, winning 11 of them.
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Rangers and Lyon famously both won 3-0 away from home when they met in the Champions League group stage in 2007.
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Rangers have won seven and lost 12 of their 27 matches against French opposition, the latest being that Europa League clash with Lyon three years ago.
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Lyon have won five and lost two of their eight meetings with Scottish teams, winning three of their four away games.
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Lyon are unbeaten in their latest seven Europa League away games, winning six of them.
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Rangers have won four consecutive games – and all five of their home games this season – and are third in the Scottish Premiership.
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Lyon have lost just one of their latest five games and sit 11th in Ligue 1.
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Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki has been involved in four goals in just four starts in the Europa League (3 goals, 1 assist), scoring their opener in the 2-0 win over Olympiakos this season.