If the form guide and expectation is to be believed, Lyon will leave space for Rangers to exploit on the counter attack tonight.
There is valid justification for this claim.
Lyon’s early season form so far has revealed some frailties in defence – partly from an unsettled partnership at the heart of their back four.
As well as that, it is well known that coach Peter Bosz will deploy an expansive open style, attrition in Rangers half will be staked at the expense of stability in their own.
This is where Rangers have the chance to pounce.
Into the second half, if the game is there for the taking, an opening could well develop for Rangers ‘secret weapon’ Fashion Sakala to utilise his explosive pace.
As profiled by Vital Rangers Gavin Kelly here, there is an increasing attraction for the Zambian to get further game time and to firmly secure himself as part of this Rangers team:
“The most notable moment was, of course, his goal against Real Madrid but he has also shown the threat that he carries behind opposition defences, blessed with pace that we haven’t seen for a while in the Rangers forward line.”
His status in the squad and relative prominence behind Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and Ryan Kent can work to the Gers advantage – especially to provide fast, fresh legs as the game against Lyon progresses.
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So far, he has been used sparingly as he is drip fed into life at Ibrox, but the big stage of the Europa League represents an excellent chance for the former Oostende man to truly announce his arrival.
Quite simply, his explosive pace is too good an asset not to use – it is unlikely that he will start tonight but surely a role can be found for him unless the encounter turns out to be an extremely tight one.
In this excellent tactical summary of Lyon and the game ahead, Patrick Caskie lays out a superb preview for This Is Ibrox.
Caskie also exposes another key flaw in the French side’s armoury:
“A significant issue that has veered its ugly head throughout this young season is Lyon’s inability to deal with crosses, which has already cost them dear in league action.”
Previous goals leaked in this way, so far this term, will not have gone unnoticed by the Rangers coaching staff so look-out for an added emphasis on set-pieces and cross balls from the Scottish champions.
A considerable challenge awaits the boys in blue but it is not an insurmountable one.
Rangers at their best, at Ibrox, are more than a match for anyone.
We will need to see European vintage of the Gerrard era once again this evening if three points are to be secured in this Group A curtain raiser – what a platform for progression that would be.