Rangers’ Europa League conquerors Lyon followed up their 2-0 victory at Ibrox with a painful last-minute defeat to Ligue 1 rivals PSG.
Just days after the French side dumped Rangers they were facing off against the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in Paris.
Making only one change from the team that faced Rangers during the week, Xherdan Shaqiri came in for French international Houssem Aouar.
And the talented if not injury-hit French side showed their prowess by running Mauricio Pochettino’s side into injury time before suffering late heartbreak in Paris.
Indeed, it was the away side who took the lead at the Parc des Princes when Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta opened the scoring ten minutes into the second half.
Countryman and global footballing superstar Neymar would equalise from the penalty spot for PSG before Mauro Icardi stole all three points for Lyon with a last-minute winner.
Whilst they eventually fell to defeat, Lyon were more than a match for PSG throughout the match with the side’s performance testament to the quality within their ranks.
Rangers might’ve been defeated by the French side – with Lyon punishing slack play from the Gers – but when their squad is holding their own against one of the most expensively assembled teams in football it shows the depth of the challenge facing the club.
Steven Gerrard’s side have some big tests to come in Europe this season with matches against Sparta Prague and Brondby on the horizon in the next few months.
Given the standard the Gers are up against with the French side, then you imagine the club’s status in the competition will be defined in these games rather than those against Lyon.
Whilst Rangers fell to opening day defeat in France, the result in the other match in Group A represents a boost to the Light Blues’ qualification chances.
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