Rangers Vs Lyon

Scottish powerhouses Rangers are set to host French club Lyon at Ibrox for their second Europa League fixture of the 2024 season this Thursday night. Both teams secured maximum points in their opening matches last week, with Rangers triumphing over Malmo in Sweden and Lyon edging past Olympiacos at home.

Match Context

Rangers’ manager, Philippe Clement, expressed disappointment with his team’s lackluster start to the season but has since found optimism in their recent form, highlighted by a four-match winning streak across all competitions. During this period, they have netted an impressive seven goals while maintaining a solid defensive record.

Following their 2-0 win against Malmo in their Europa League debut, Rangers continued their momentum by claiming a crucial three points in the Scottish Premiership with a narrow 1-0 victory over Hibernian last weekend. Tom Lawrence’s first-half goal proved decisive in that encounter.

Clement has raised concerns over the penalty awarded to Hibernian for an alleged handball by John Souttar, but Rangers' goalkeeper Jack Butland was quick to respond by saving Mykola Kuharevich's spot-kick. Consequently, Rangers currently sit five points behind league leaders Celtic and Aberdeen after six league matches.

Looking ahead, Rangers have two upcoming fixtures that appear favorable, facing St Johnstone and Kilmarnock. However, their immediate focus is on the Europa League clash with Lyon, a team they have historically struggled against, winning just once in their last four European encounters—specifically a 3-0 victory in the 2007 Champions League.

The Gers have an impressive record at home in European competitions, having lost only one of their last 17 matches at Ibrox (W11, D5). Interestingly, that sole defeat came against Lyon, who defeated Rangers 2-0 during a Europa League group-stage match in September 2021.

Lyon's Recent Form

Lyon, under the guidance of head coach Pierre Sage, had a rocky start to September, failing to win their opening two matches against Lens (0-0) and Marseille (2-3). However, the team rebounded to secure back-to-back victories, ending the month on a high note with wins over Olympiacos and Toulouse within a three-day span.

In their Europa League opener, Les Gones impressed with a strong second-half performance, defeating Europa Conference League champions Olympiacos 2-0. They followed that up with a comeback win against Toulouse in Ligue 1 last Sunday, where substitute Malick Fofana scored a dramatic 95th-minute winner.

After finishing sixth in Ligue 1 last season, Lyon has struggled to find consistency this term, currently sitting in 11th place with just seven points from their first six matches. They find themselves six points behind the top three and nine points adrift of league leaders Paris Saint-Germain. The recent win against Toulouse was crucial in restoring confidence after a turbulent start.

As Lyon turns its attention back to the Europa League, they will be optimistic about their chances on Thursday. The French side has demonstrated their prowess on the road in this competition, winning six and drawing one of their last seven away matches, dating back to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Atalanta BC in December 2017.

Historically, Lyon has also enjoyed success in their previous European away fixtures against Scottish clubs, winning three out of four encounters. Their only blemish in this regard was a 2-0 loss to Celtic during the 2003 Champions League group stage.