The point would have been gladly accepted before a ball had been kicked. Come the final whistle, there were feelings of what might have been for Rangers. This was, though, still one gained rather than two lost in the grand scheme of things.

The strike from Cyriel Dessers that earned Philippe Clement’s side a share of the spoils against Olympiacos was worthy of the occasion. The two misses from the striker in the first half summed up the situation and the frustration. Had Dessers ended the night with more than one goal, Rangers would have claimed more than one point.

In the end, his fine individual effort cancelled out the opener from Ayoub El Kaabi. That, too, was a moment of excellence as the Moroccan produced an accomplished finish early in the second half. On a night of few chances, El Kaabi showed how important it is to take those that materialise.

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Rangers could be left disappointed with the result but not the performance. Olympiacos, on the other hand, will feel disheartened by both. This was no smash-and-grab from Clement’s side. It was a controlled and combative showing against the Conference League holders.

El Kaabi capitalised on one of the few defensive errors from Rangers as Olympiacos were limited in what they could carve out overall. The pairing of John Souttar and Robin Propper were central to that, but this was a collective effort over a hard-fought 90 minutes.

“I think it is a really difficult place to come,” Souttar said as he reflected on events at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. “That is a top team that we have played, they won the Conference League last season. I thought we stuck together as a team, we stuck to the game plan and it is about moments in these games.

“As much as we are pleased, there is a slight frustration because we felt we done enough for three points. I think we would have taken one point coming here. It is slightly frustrating, but we have got to be pleased with that performance.

“I think it is massive and it is what we should aim to do every game. Stay as a unit, be compact and be difficult to beat. Especially in these games away from home in Europe when you are playing top teams. They are going to have moments, it is important that everyone stays together and defends as a team and that is what we did.”

The Europa League continues to offer encouragement for Clement this term. The Belgian remains under fire and under pressure as a result of an ailing Premiership title challenge but he has found respite on the continent and in the matches with Malmo, FCSB and Olympiacos.

Rangers have punched above their weight so often in this competition in recent years but this current crop of players are learning on the job and as they go. It is a new group forging new experiences and points will be proven as they are earned.

(Image: Costas Baltas/Shutterstock)

The visit of Hearts on Sunday provides another alternative challenge for a team who have looked so different domestically when compared to their European exploits. As has been said previously after these occasions, the bar at home must be raised to the levels attained abroad.

“When you come away in Europe you have got to defend well as a team,” Souttar said. “I thought in Malmo we did that. This was a different performance but I would agree, it was a good performance from the whole team defensively.

“I think to a man, the midfielders, the attackers, we defended as a unit. To pick up points in this competition against top players and top teams you need to defend as a unit. We did that.

“I think the contrast [to domestic fixtures] is so different so it is hard to compare the two. I think we have got to enjoy [Thursday night] after that performance and go on to Sunday and get three points.”

Rangers now sit tenth in the Europa League standings after taking their tally to seven points from four matches. A trip to Nice at the end of the month is next on the agenda before glamour ties with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. The visit of Union Saint-Gilloise on matchday eight could yet prove decisive.

The defeat to Lyon at Ibrox stands as a harsh lesson for Clement’s side. Yet there has been enough to suggest that more points can be collected after an established European outfit were kept quiet on their home soil.

“I think we have just got to take every game as it comes,” Souttar said. “And if we play like we did… We were compact, working for each other, doing the hard yards and then taking our moments I feel we will be fine.

“[The atmosphere] was good. It is better when you get a point, or get three points. Every atmosphere is better when you come away with a result. It is a positive [to get that result], but it will only be a positive if it gets us through, so we need to do that next time.”

Souttar will be there when that match comes around in France. He has, after all, been there every step of the way so far this term as Clement has built his back four around him as a central pillar.

The return of Propper on Thursday evening could be followed by the return of Leon Balogun on Sunday afternoon. Souttar already has 18 games for Rangers to his credit this term. His form has been recognised at international level but the 28-year-old remains as cool, calm and composed as ever as he continues to go from strength to strength at Ibrox.

“I have just stayed the same as last season,” Souttar said. “Every game I will give 100 per cent, every training session I will give 100 per cent. I wouldn’t say there has been a big difference to this season, last season or however many games I have played. I have played the same every game.”