PERFECT LYON

Steven Gerrard made four changes coming into this game against Ligue 1 side Lyon in the Uefa Europa League match.

This had no effect on the game as impeccable Lyon stun Rangers in Ibrox.

Rangers were unable to cope with Lyon’s talent, as they were defeated drably at home in their UEFA Europa League Group A opener.

Rangers looked bright in the first moments, despite facing their greatest European test since Steven Gerrard’s arrival in 2018, as they moved the ball with ease. The one thing they didn’t manage to do was break down Lyon, and the usual suspects who led Rangers to a record-breaking 102 points in the Scottish Premiership last season were mysteriously absent.

Lyon, on the other hand, were able to display their quality when given their own breakaways, eventually startling Ibrox with a powerful strike from Karl Toko Ekambi. The Gers’ defence gave the Cameroonian too much space, and he beat Allan McGregor with a rocket into the far bottom corner from range. Ryan Kent came close to tying the game before halftime, but Anthony Lopes made a wonderful save to keep the score at 1-0.

After the interval, Peter Bosz’s team picked up the pace and doubled their lead, albeit with a bit of luck.

Islam Slimani, a former Leicester City player, was on hand to follow up a blocked effort inside the box with his own shot, which pinballed between Connor Goldson and James Tavernier before sneaking over the line as an own goal for the latter.

Rangers’ night got even worse when Ryan Kent was forced out with a hamstring injury late in the game, making it a night to remember for the Ibrox supporters. Lyon, on the other hand, will be buoyed by their slick performance in a competition where they are anticipated to go far this season.

NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL OSIMHEN BRACE INSPIRES NAPOLI COMEBACK

NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL OSIMHEN BRACE INSPIRES NAPOLI COMEBACK

Napoli staged a dramatic comeback to salvage a late point in a 2-2 draw at Leicester, Nigerian international Osimhen brace inspires Napoli comeback.

The hosts had taken a two-goal lead but were unable to hold on as the UEFA Europa League group rounds began.

The visitors, who had gone undefeated in their previous twelve games since losing to Juventus in April, squandered a hat trick of first-half chances, the first of which came through Victor Osimhen, who was denied by Kasper Schmeichel in the opening minutes as both teams got off to a fast start. At the other end, David Ospina made a point-blank save from Harvey Barnes, who then turned provider, floating a lovely cross to the back post, where Ayoze Pérez volleyed Leicester into a tenth-minute lead.

The visitors dominated in terms of territory, but they squandered multiple opportunities in their pursuit for an early reaction, and it took them until late in the half to put the Leicester defence to the test. Timothy Castagne and Schmeichel cooperated in a hurry to block Piotr Zielinski’s strike before the goalkeeper produced a fantastic double save from Hirving Lozano and Fabián Ruiz.

After the break, Leicester kept Napoli at bay and nearly doubled their advantage when VAR judged Patson Daka’s powerful finish offside in a tight offside situation. But the Foxes earned their second goal just a few minutes later when Kelechi Iheanacho’s exquisite pass found Barnes, who wonderfully shot across Ospina and into the far corner.

The two-goal lead lasted only five minutes, as Osimhen rediscovered his shooting boots in a spectacular manner, lifting the ball over Jannik Vestergaard and skillfully lobbing Schmeichel. It was all Napoli from then on, and they ultimately overcame Leicester’s resistance in the 87th minute, when Osimhen got his second of the evening, heading in Matteo Politano’s cross to earn a point.

To make matters worse for the hosts, Wilfred Ndidi was sent off in injury time, meaning he will miss Leicester’s next group game, which is a trip to Warsaw, which the ‘Foxes’ must not underestimate.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE RESULTS FROM OTHER MATCHES

BAYERN LEVERKUSEN 2

FERENCVAROS 1

BETIS 4

CELTIC 3

CRVENDA ZVEZDA 2

BRAGA 1

DINAMO ZAGREB 0

WEST HAM 2

GALATASARAY 1

LAZIO 0

LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW 1

MARSEILE 1

MIDJTYLAND 1

LUDOGRETS 1

RAPID VIENNA 0

GENK 1

BRONDBY O

SPARTAK PRAGUE 1

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 1

FERNABACHE 1

MONACO 1

STURM GRAZ 0

OLYMPIACOS PIRAEUS 2

ANTWERP 1

PSV 2

REAL SOCIEDAD 2