Rangers are preparing to face a familiar foe in Lyon tonight as Moussa Dembele looks set to line up for the French outfit.
The big striker cost Lyon £20m the season before last as the Ligue 1 club splashed out to bring the forward to the Groupama Stadium from Rangers’ Old Firm rivals Celtic.
Undoubtedly a talented player, Dembele was too good for the weak Rangers sides he faced as he hammered home a hattrick against the likes of Rob Kiernan and Phillipe Senderos.
And he hasn’t shut up about it since.
The big striker appears desperate to maintain a rapport with the Celtic faithful and regularly tweets out on Old Firm day or when something goes wrong at Ibrox.
It’s all a bit cringe given the backdrop, but it’s added an extra dimension to what otherwise would be a routine friendly match designed as a test for Rangers against top-level opposition.
If the Rangers players aren’t up for it, Moussa Dembele certainly will be. The Frenchman certainly won’t be rolling out the red carpet anyway.
Whilst it’s only a friendly, you can bet hordes of Celtic fans will be waiting on Demebele’s call should he down the Ibrox side tonight.
The Rangers players should probably take that notion personally.
His presence in the Lyon side – along with ex-Celtic defender Jason Denayer – makes everything a little bit spicier and makes the contest a little more exciting.
It might be a friendly match, but come kick-off, Rangers fans will be hoping to do the business and put the forward in his place.
Well, at least for now.
