Rangers suffered their first defeat in the Europa League as Lyon ran out comfortable winners at Ibrox. Tom Lawrence pulled Philippe Clement’s side level early on after a Malick Fofana opener but the visitors proved too strong as their quality and class showed throughout.

Alexandre Lacazette scored twice in the first half to win the game for Pierre Sage’s side. Fofana made it four shortly after the break. Lyon could, and perhaps should, have won by more.

Rangers dealt harsh Europa League lesson

There was an air of resignation around Ibrox at the interval. The third goal that extended Lyon’s lead did not flatter the visitors and all the hope and feelgood from Lawrence’s leveller had evaporated. That was as good as it got for Clement’s side.

The playmaker picked up an injury as he knocked the ball beyond Lucas Perri from close range. Lawrence did not appear after the break as Kieran Dowell took his place. That was never going to be a change that turned the tide for Rangers.

James Tavernier was replaced by Neraysho Kasanwirjo with half an hour left. Nicolas Raskin and Dujon Sterling were also introduced. By that stage, of course, the match was well beyond them.

The win in Malmo gave Rangers a foothold in the new league format and it remains to be seen how many points will be required to extend their campaign this term. The matches with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur present obvious challenges and Clement’s side will have to maximise their return against Steaua Bucharest and Union Saint-Gilloise if they are to stand a chance of qualifying come January.

Cerny miss proves costly

Rangers left Sweden last week with a sense of regret that they had not won by a greater margin. Such a level of profligacy was always going to be punished against a higher level of opposition and that proved to be the case. Rangers were outclassed but they had their chances.

James Tavernier was denied by Perri inside three minutes. When the keeper saved from Lawrence on the angle, the ball fell to Vaclav Cerny and the net was empty. Inexplicably, the winger scooped his strike high over the bar from just six yards. Within seconds, Lyon were ahead.

It was a harsh lesson for Rangers but one that must be learned soon at this level. Mistakes that can be made domestically simply cannot be when in this company. There is every chance that Lyon would still have been too good even if Cerny had scored, of course. Goals change games, though.

Rangers continued to press and probe even after it was evident that the match was beyond them. Dowell forced a stop from Perri with a quarter of an hour remaining and the remainder was an exercise in damage limitation.

Lyon show their attacking class

When Lyon won here in season 2007/08, a forward by the name of Karim Benzema stole the show. This time around, the names of Cherki and Fofana will live long in the memory. On a night where Lyon impressed as a collective, those two stood out individually.

Fofana opened the scoring with a fine finish from left to right after just ten minutes as Cherki provided the assist. When the visitors regained the lead, it was Fofana that did most of the damage as he capitalised on a woeful pass from Connor Barron and put Rangers on the back foot before Lacazette finished from inside the area.

The third was a wonderful strike from Fofana. Jack Butland had pulled off a couple of smart stops to keep Rangers in the fixture but was helpless when Fofana found the top corner from range. Fofana made it four from just yards out but the goal was just as impressive as Cherki twisted and turned and then picked out his fellow forward at the back post.

Crowd can’t lift Clement’s side

The home support didn’t fulfil their ambition to be the twelfth man that Clement’s side needed. Even if they had been, it wouldn’t have mattered here. Lyon were too good and Rangers were beaten on and off the park.

A tifo with a banner that proclaimed ‘Rangers storm over Europe’ was followed by a pyrotechnic display as flares and fireworks were set off in the Copland Front. There were few times when the rest of the ground joined in with the songs and chants from the Union Bears in their new section.

This never felt like being one of the great European occasions under the floodlights. The crowd never really got going to give the players the energy they needed, and the players couldn’t make enough of an impression to give the crowd the belief that a win was on the cards.

Bajrami the bright spark

The search for positives on a night like this can be difficult. Clement only had to look to his left wing to find one, though. The contribution of Nedim Bajrami will give the Belgian hope for the future and he continues to make a positive impression on supporters. Once he is able to operate from his preferred central berth, Bajrami will surely be even more influential.

His pass that started the move that ended with Cerny’s miss was perfectly weighted and just one of many that Bajrami played. There is a lot to like about the playmaker. He was replaced by Ross McCausland for the closing stages and received a warm applause as he walked back around the pitch to the dugout.

Time will tell how serious the injury to Lawrence is. Clement now has Ianis Hagi available for selection once again, of course. If everyone is fit, Bajrami is the standout for the No.10 role.