Rangers recently played Lyon at the start of the 2020/21 campaign, when pre-season silverware was claimed in the form of the Veolia Trophy.
Thanks to goals from Jermain Defoe and Jamie Barjonas, the Gers overcame the tournament hosts, picking up a taste for glory which was to augur well for 55 and all that followed last time out.
Now, the French side return to Ibrox on competitive duty in the Europa League ahead of the return game in December – which will cast minds back to the Champions League games back in 2007/08, as part of a very memorable season under Walter Smith.
Of particular relevance to that campaign, was the game on 12 December 2007 – Matchday 6 of the CL group stage.
A draw would have been enough to send Rangers into the Last 16 of Europe’s showpiece tournament whilst the visitors knew that a win for them would seal that berth at Rangers expense.
No-one knew then what would unfold, but it is fair to say that a terrible miss from Rangers Jean-Claude Darcheville had a not insignificant imprint on the rest of that season and with it an imprint on Rangers history.
Small margins
Into the second half of the game and Lyon lead 0-1 thanks to a Sidney Govou strike.
Just after the hour mark, things changed rapidly and ultimately, the game was put to bed in ruthless fashion by a young upcoming striker by the name of Karim Benzema.
Prior to that, a Rangers attack saw Barry Ferguson in a dangerous position, deep inside the visitor’s box.
As he slid the ball across to Darcheville, it seemed as if a goal was a certainty. Ibrox held its breath waiting for the net to bulge but somehow, from point blank range almost under the bar, the French strike managed to scoop the ball high and horrible, right into the Copland Road stand.
That was the chance that could have secured a second Last 16 berth for the club in the Champions League – and a meeting with Manchester United.
Instead, Lyon pushed further and put Rangers to the sword thanks to a late brace from that man, Benzema.
The rest is history, Rangers dropped into the UEFA Cup – Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting, Fiorentina and Zenit – all the way to the final in Manchester.
Yet, it could have been all so different but for a swing of a boot.
Let’s see what happens tonight as Gerrard’s class of 2021 go for glory once again, with the start of another chapter in Rangers famous European history.
@graeme818