bloodandfire
Well-Known Member
L'Équipe wrote: "In this perfect opening result there was a lot more talent, a real European club culture, and a little bit of patience, too.
"To scale against the group stage of the Europa League, OL are giants in Europe, and they were at least able to live up to their status and expectations by blocking Rangers (2-0) and by already opening up a gap on the home turf of a direct rival for qualification.
"The hell of Ibrox was not scorching enough to engulf them but that was indubitably because Lyon's men knew how to extinguish it and regularly silence it.
"The truth is that they'd scored before even putting together a move worthy of the name, Karl Toko Ekambi's magnificent strike, coming off his left wing to roll the ball into the opposite corner, came out of the absolute desert that was OL's play up to that point."
As much we must underline how OL, by winning at Ibrox on the first day, lived up to their ranking and have already opened a gap in the group, there was not much to remember from their evening in Scotland.
"The Lyonnais hadn't really started playing before scoring the first goal, and they stopped doing so after scoring the second, so the evening went slowly sometimes.
"It could have ended worse, suddenly, because Lyon could not hold out without putting themselves in danger, losing too many balls and too many duels.
"Given their ranking, OL should have at least managed things better instead of being, on several occasions, a few inches away from waking up Ibrox."
Le Progrès felt the result was a huge coup for Lyon, having viewed Rangers as the other big favourite to win the group.
They wrote: "The Lyonnais were promised a complicated trip to Rangers to start their Europa League campaign. In view of the overall performance and the result, it is a very good deal that they succeeded by winning (2-0) in the clash of the two main favourites for the group."
The Lyon-based newspaper continued: "Rangers weren't knocked out yet. A goal would have ignited the whole stadium, everyone knew it, but on a nice free-kick Tavernier only found the bar.
"There was still a long way to go before claiming victory, and OL suffered the last assaults from the Gers without great serenity. The danger was lurking, but the score did not change."
Le Monde felt that the scoreline was a little flattering for the visitors.
They wrote: "Olympique Lyonnais confirmed their recovery seen last weekend in the league by winning 2-0 at Ibrox against Glasgow Rangers - the most formidable opponent in Group A - coached by the former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
"It was a flattering score, however, because the hosts could have reduced the arrears, or even taken something from the game. Les Gones take advantage of the draw between Brondby and Sparta Prague in the group's other match to take the lead of the group on their own."
Maxifoot were impressed with the atmosphere at the stadium as they wrote: "In a hot atmosphere at Ibrox, the Lyonnais struggled in the first quarter of an hour. Harried by the Scots, the visitors gradually got their heads above water and ended up making their firepower speak.
"Released on the left, Toko Ekambi made a magnificent move to deceive McGregor with a hard shot curled into the far corner. It was a goal that freed Les Gones, who were then more aggressive and united in defence. Despite everything though Rangers were battling and were not far from levelling on a strike from Aribo repelled by Lopes.
"Carried by an increasingly sharp Kent, Glasgow pushed OL to their limits and gave new fear to the Portuguese goalkeeper on a shot from Lundstram. As Gusto missed on a cross, it took another classy save from Lopes to prevent Kent from levelling before the break.
"Despite the pressure, the Lyonnais did not let the Scottish players gain confidence. Using their experience, Peter Bosz's men drew intelligent fouls to break up the game and frustrate their powerless opponents.
"In a great atmosphere in Scotland, OL used their experience and struck at the right times.
"Even if we have already seen the Gones be much more entertaining, they managed to be effective to get an important victory against a team that never wavered in its pressing."
"To scale against the group stage of the Europa League, OL are giants in Europe, and they were at least able to live up to their status and expectations by blocking Rangers (2-0) and by already opening up a gap on the home turf of a direct rival for qualification.
"The hell of Ibrox was not scorching enough to engulf them but that was indubitably because Lyon's men knew how to extinguish it and regularly silence it.
"The truth is that they'd scored before even putting together a move worthy of the name, Karl Toko Ekambi's magnificent strike, coming off his left wing to roll the ball into the opposite corner, came out of the absolute desert that was OL's play up to that point."
As much we must underline how OL, by winning at Ibrox on the first day, lived up to their ranking and have already opened a gap in the group, there was not much to remember from their evening in Scotland.
"The Lyonnais hadn't really started playing before scoring the first goal, and they stopped doing so after scoring the second, so the evening went slowly sometimes.
"It could have ended worse, suddenly, because Lyon could not hold out without putting themselves in danger, losing too many balls and too many duels.
"Given their ranking, OL should have at least managed things better instead of being, on several occasions, a few inches away from waking up Ibrox."
Le Progrès felt the result was a huge coup for Lyon, having viewed Rangers as the other big favourite to win the group.
They wrote: "The Lyonnais were promised a complicated trip to Rangers to start their Europa League campaign. In view of the overall performance and the result, it is a very good deal that they succeeded by winning (2-0) in the clash of the two main favourites for the group."
The Lyon-based newspaper continued: "Rangers weren't knocked out yet. A goal would have ignited the whole stadium, everyone knew it, but on a nice free-kick Tavernier only found the bar.
"There was still a long way to go before claiming victory, and OL suffered the last assaults from the Gers without great serenity. The danger was lurking, but the score did not change."
Le Monde felt that the scoreline was a little flattering for the visitors.
They wrote: "Olympique Lyonnais confirmed their recovery seen last weekend in the league by winning 2-0 at Ibrox against Glasgow Rangers - the most formidable opponent in Group A - coached by the former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
"It was a flattering score, however, because the hosts could have reduced the arrears, or even taken something from the game. Les Gones take advantage of the draw between Brondby and Sparta Prague in the group's other match to take the lead of the group on their own."
Maxifoot were impressed with the atmosphere at the stadium as they wrote: "In a hot atmosphere at Ibrox, the Lyonnais struggled in the first quarter of an hour. Harried by the Scots, the visitors gradually got their heads above water and ended up making their firepower speak.
"Released on the left, Toko Ekambi made a magnificent move to deceive McGregor with a hard shot curled into the far corner. It was a goal that freed Les Gones, who were then more aggressive and united in defence. Despite everything though Rangers were battling and were not far from levelling on a strike from Aribo repelled by Lopes.
"Carried by an increasingly sharp Kent, Glasgow pushed OL to their limits and gave new fear to the Portuguese goalkeeper on a shot from Lundstram. As Gusto missed on a cross, it took another classy save from Lopes to prevent Kent from levelling before the break.
"Despite the pressure, the Lyonnais did not let the Scottish players gain confidence. Using their experience, Peter Bosz's men drew intelligent fouls to break up the game and frustrate their powerless opponents.
"In a great atmosphere in Scotland, OL used their experience and struck at the right times.
"Even if we have already seen the Gones be much more entertaining, they managed to be effective to get an important victory against a team that never wavered in its pressing."
