Rangers v Lyon: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Continental football returns to Ibrox Stadium on Thursday as Rangers host Lyon in the league phase of the UEFA Europa League.

The Gers' earlier 'home' tie in Europe was a 2-0 UEFA Champions League qualifying defeat to Dynamo Kyiv at Hampden Park but the renovations have now been completed on their traditional home and the ground should be rocking.

Philippe Clement's side won 2-0 in Malmo last week, the same scoreline by which Lyon defeated UEFA Conference League champions, Olympiakos.

Les Gones had a chaotic summer but have recovered to lose only one of their last five in all competitions - an action-packed 3-2 defeat to Marseille featuring a fifth-minute sending off and both sides scoring in second-half stoppage time.

After taking his team from the relegation places to European football last season, Pierre Sage might be getting things together following a big summer of incomings and outgoings and the visitors look a good price to succeed in Glasgow. 

Rangers v Lyon betting tips and predictions

Lyon to win - 7/4

Rangers might be on a run of four straight wins, but their streak was preceded by their 3-0 Old Firm defeat to Celtic and they have been far from impressive, with Clement admitting that the performance produced in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Hibs was "not incredible".

The Belgian was scathing of things at the club over the summer, but seems to know what he's doing and inspired his side to a UEFA Europa League win away at Real Betis last season, while they were unlucky not to get past Benfica in the knockout stages.

However, his squad has limitations, losing to Dynamo in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers and can struggle to make the step up against better opposition.

The result against Malmo was decent, but despite their mixed form to date, Lyon are one of the teams who could go all the way in this competition.

They beat the reigning UEFA Conference League champions, Olympiakos, in their opening European game and backed it up with a scrappy win at Toulouse.

Sage's side recorded just one shot on target but triumphed 2-1 thanks to Malick Fofana's late strike after Rasmus Nicolaisen's own goal cancelled Yann Gboho's opener.

Their squad is laced with talent, with Rayan Cherki among those expected to come into the team after being on the bench at Toulouse.

Les Gones have won both of their previous trips to Ibrox Stadium and can make it a hat-trick on Thursday.

Alexandre Lacazette anytime goalscorer - 2/1

Another Lyon player among the substitutes in Toulouse was captain Alexandre Lacazette, who has failed to score in six games since returning to club football following the Olympics.

Summer signing Georges Mikautadze got the nod at the weekend and, with Lacazette expected to depart next summer, the Georgian is seen as the skipper's long-term successor.

However, his early ascension into the side means Lacazette may have to rely on this competition for the majority of his minutes.

But the former Arsenal man is no stranger to scoring in the UEFA Europa League, with his 22 strikes joint-sixth on the competition's all-time top scorers list.

With this looking increasingly like his final season of playing club football in Europe, Lacazette will be desperate to show he can still make his mark at Ibrox Stadium.

Jefte to be carded - 11/5

Brazilian defender Jefte signed for Rangers in the summer and, while undoubtedly talented, he is also very raw.

The left-back was sent off after receiving two yellow cards against Dynamo and has picked up three further bookings domestically.

Jefte missed the game in Malmo through suspension, but is available here and expected to start with Ridvan Yilmaz sidelined due to a thigh injury.

With Cherki, Fofana, Lacazette and potentially Ernest Nuamah all able to interchange positions in the Lyon attack, the Gers defence could be dragged around and the 20-year-old may find his name in German referee Sven Jablonski's notebook.

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Rangers v Lyon odds

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.