Doubles from both Alexandre Lacazette and Malick Fofana secured all three points for the visitors, with Tom Lawrence on target for Philippe Clement’s men after 14 minutes and his goal making it 1-1 at that point of the match.

The Light Blues enjoyed a positive start to the contest with Lyon’s Lucas Perri pulling off an impressive save from a close-range effort from James Tavernier after just three minutes of play.

Vaclav Cerny was then guilty of missing a chance he’ll not want to watch back. Lawrence’s initial effort was well saved but the ball fell at the feet of the Gers number 18 who, from 10 yards and with the goalkeeper scrambling, shot over the bar with the home supporters holding their breath and waiting to celebrate.

Somewhat against the run of play, the visitors took the lead through Fofana on 10 minutes. After positive build-up play the ball made its way through to the explosive forward who curled an accurate, right-footed finish into the far corner of Jack Butland’s goal.

Rangers, however, quickly got back into the match with Lawrence – who scored the winner against Hibs in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday – again finding the net in front of the Broomloan Stand.

Dessers was sharp as he attempted to nip in and toe-poke Corentin Tilisso’s header past Perri at full stretch, but when the ball rebounded back to Lawrence he stabbed it beyond the goalkeeper confidently to make it 1-1, taking a knock in the process.

The visitors, however, were back in front on 19 minutes. Connor Barron’s blind pass allowed Fofana to drive forward with three Rangers players sprinting back.

But instead of shooting the winger cut back inside and found Lacazette in space. The former Arsenal striker made no mistake as he fired home to restore his side’s one-goal advantage.

Before the half-hour mark, Pierre Sage was forced to make his first substitution with the injured Nemanja Matic replaced by Maxence Caqueret. And on 41 minutes the visitors made their second change, with Moussa Niakhate going on Clinton Mata, who hobbled off with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.

The half ended with Rangers conceding a third. Lacazette was given time and space to drift in from the left flank with the ball and the Lyon captain unleashed a ferocious shot from distance which flew past Butland and into the postage stamp corner of his goal.

It was a moment of outstanding quality from the experienced striker and it meant Rangers had it all to do in the second period if they were going to take anything from the match.

With Keiran Dowell replacing Lawrence, Rangers again started the second half on the front foot although Barron showed a bit too much tenacity with a challenge which resulted in the second booking of the match.

Lyon then bagged their fourth goal of the night, taking their chances with ruthless efficiency. Rayan Cherki did well to fire the ball low across goal and Fofana was at the back post to score from close range.

On 67 minutes the visitors came within inches of making it five, with Duje Caleta-Car hitting the crossbar with a header before Tolisso got his head to the rebound but his effort was blocked.

Dowell had the Rangers fans briefly out of their seats when his powerful half-volley brought out a fine save from Perri, who dived to his right to palm the ball away.

Lyon, however, continued to show their qualities in the latter stages, with Lacazette failing to complete a hat-trick. Butland made a good stop from the 33-year-old who then fired another shot narrowly wide in the next attack.

RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier (Kasanwirjo 61), Souttar, Propper, Jefte, Diomande, Barron (Raskin 69), Cerny (Sterling 69), Lawrence (Dowell 46), Bajrami (McCausland 80), Dessers

SUBS NOT USED: Kelly (GK), Balogun, Igamane, King, Fraser, McKinnon, Lovelace

GOALS: Lawrence 14

BOOKINGS: Souttar, Barron

LYON: Perri, Tagliafico, Veretout (Diawara 75), Tolisso, Lacazette, Fofana (Benrahma 75), Cherki (Nuamah 76), Mata (Niakhate 43), Matic (Caqueret 26), Caleta-Car, Maitland-Niles

SUBS NOT USED: Bengui-Joao (GK), Descamps (GK), Orban, Zaha, Vinicius, Kumbedi, Mikautadze

GOALS: Fofana 10, 55 Lacazette 19, 45+1

BOOKINGS: Veretout, Cherki