Former Manchester United and Chelsea star Nemanja Matic has warned Rangers they could be playing the future Europa League winners in their next game when they face Lyon.

Rangers got off to a flier this week with a 2-0 win in Sweden against Malmo in their opening game in the competition.

They entertain Lyon in their second game at Ibrox next week and the Ligue 1 side got off to an equally good start by easing past Olympiakos by the same scoreline.

Matic, 36, played in the win and is desperate to finally go one better after being a three-times runners-up in the competition with Benfica, Roma and Manchester United.

And he has no doubts Lyon should be aiming high this season.

He said: "It was important to start the Europa League with a win.

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"We are happy with the way we played. It was vital to score early in the second half, and then the second goal allowed us to close the game. We really deserved this win.

"Our ambition? Simple. We aim to win the Europa League."

And Lyon boss Pierre Sage admitted they need the victory because they have previously only won one game all season.

He said: "I had a go at them at half time when it was 0-0 and I told them it wasn't acceptable. We were too soft and we weren't incisive enough.

"It was different in the second half.

"I don't know if it will launch our season. We have to keep it going now in our next away matches against Toulouse and Rangers."