Rangers 1-4 Lyon: Alexandre Lacazette scores wonder goal as Lyon punish Rangers in Europa League at Ibrox
Lyon's captain, Alexandre Lacazette, netted an astonishing goal, contributing to a tough 4-1 loss for Rangers at Ibrox, where he and Malick Fofana both found the net twice.
James Tavernier missed an early opportunity, and shortly after, Vlacav Cerny failed to convert a straightforward chance from just seven yards out. However, Lyon took the lead soon after, thanks to Fofana's composed finish following Rayan Cherki's impressive ball control and assist.
The Rangers quickly responded, with Tom Lawrence scoring his second goal in as many games before being substituted at halftime due to an injury. The midfielder took advantage after Cyriel Dessers missed an opportunity following a poor header back toward goal from Corentin Tolisso.
Lyon regained the lead before the match hit the halfway mark when Connor Barron's blind pass was intercepted by the Belgian teenager Fofana. He skillfully dribbled towards the box and set up Lacazette, who made no mistake in putting the ball into the net.
The best moment of the first half was yet to happen, as Lacazette netted an incredible long-range goal.
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The Lyon captain made a swift move from the left side, then struck the ball with his right foot, sending it past Jack Butland and into the top corner of the net just before the end of the first half.
Lacazette adds to his goal count for Lyon...
Lyon's captain Alexandre Lacazette increased his total goals for the team to 183 by netting two in their 4-1 victory against Rangers in the Europa League.
Fofana scored the fourth goal shortly after the second half began, thanks to some excellent play from Cherki. Although Lyon's defense was occasionally shaky, they consistently posed a threat on the attack. Duje Caleta-Car nearly found the net with a header that struck the crossbar, while Rangers substitute Neraysho Kasanwirjo managed to keep Tolisso's header from crossing the line.
Rangers continued to push ahead, and Lyon's goalkeeper, Lucas Perri, made an impressive stop against a volley from Kieran Dowell. However, Butland had to step in to deny a late effort from substitute Said Benrahma, making an excellent block. Lyon's danger lingered until the final whistle, sealing a tough loss for the team from Ibrox.
Butland: Lyon Has Talent, But We Created Problems
Rangers' goalkeeper Jack Butland spoke to TNT Sports:
"They possess a lot of impressive talent. Our regret lies in the fact that we allowed them too many chances to display that talent."
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"I really wish we could have another chance at it. Honestly, I hate to admit this, but I believe we should have taken a different approach. At the time, we didn’t quite do enough to disrupt their offense or make that crucial foul to prevent them from finding their rhythm."
"We're disappointed because we allowed them some straightforward chances to highlight their impressive skills. In that way, it might seem worse than it actually is, but ultimately, we created our own problems."
Clement: A Tough Outcome
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Manager Philippe Clement of the Rangers:
"I believe we began the match with positive intentions, a strong level of energy, and a solid performance."
To create an electric atmosphere in the stadium and enjoy a fantastic night in Europe, it's crucial to take advantage of those early opportunities. When you have two clear chances right at the start of the match, you have to finish them off to set the stage for a memorable European evening.
"We accomplished several positive things, but the goalkeeper made an impressive save on Tav's opportunity. However, he could have also passed the ball sideways, where two of our players were completely open and ready to score, and Vaclav was also in a perfect position for an easy goal."
"I believe we've reached our limit in generating those types of opportunities. It's hard to create better chances than the ones we had, but we need to take advantage of them. When facing opponents of this caliber, chances are limited, so not capitalizing on them is quite frustrating."
"However, a score of 1-4 feels quite unfair when you look at the match. Both teams had a similar number of opportunities, and we actually created more chances in the first half. Yet, we found ourselves down 1-3 at halftime, which highlights the gap in quality. This is definitely an area we need to improve on."
Boyd: Lyon's Attack Dominated Rangers
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Kris Boyd from Sky Sports:
The attacking trio of Lacazette, Cherki, and Fofana completely dismantled Rangers—they were exceptional. Rangers had a tough time keeping up with their speed and skill. The final score was four, but it easily could have been higher.
It's surprising to think that Rangers faced a 4-1 defeat in Europe, and yet, astonishingly, it's not even the most disappointing outcome for a Scottish club in Europe this week.
Lyon achieves their third consecutive victory at Ibrox...
Lyon has triumphed in their last three games at Ibrox, continuing their success from earlier victories in 2007 and 2021.
The Rangers struggle to dictate the pace of their matches. They tend to alternate between being extremely slow and overly chaotic. They had significant issues with losing possession of the ball, which is an area they can improve upon moving forward.
"The next few weeks are going to be crucial for the Rangers."
