Rangers against Lyon

Oh no! Benzema is found by a long ball as Cuellar stumbled and he pokes the ball under McGregor and in. Rangers 0-2 Lyon. Game over.

Lyon make a change too, Juninho is off and Milan Baros (remember him?!) is on.

Kris Boyd is on for Hemdani. Last throw of the dice from Walter Smith.

This game is wide open now, Rangers are throwing everything at Lyon but leaving massive gaps at the back. It was actually Steven Whittaker that made the goal line block when Benzema looked certain to score.

What a breathless period of play that was! Lyon should have scored at one end, then Rangers had an amazing chance to snatch the goal they desperately need. How did Darchville not score?!

Lyon break again from a Rangers corner and Toulalan is felled by Thomson. He needs to be careful, having already been booked.

Then Rangers have a glorious chance! Ferguson drives into the area, pulls the ball back across the six yard line and Darchville somehow manages to hit the bar from four yards out! Unbelievable drama!

How did Lyon not score! Benzema streaked clear rounded McGregor but Cuellar blocked his shot in front of an empty net!

Hemdani hits the one man wall with the free-kick. Unforgivable that.

Darchville does well to nip in front of Squillaci and win a free-kick.

Great break from the substitute Reveillere! He charges down the right and his cross is flicked clear by Weir as Benzema tried to meet it.

Govou - the match winner as it stands - is off to be replaced by Anthony Reveillere.

There are fifteen minutes left for Rangers to salvage their Champions League dreams.

Toulalan intercepts a Ferguson pass and needed more options from his side. He chose Benzema who is ushered away from goal by Weir.

For once Rangers' delivery is decent but Cuellar can't meet Ferguson's cross.

This keeper is hilarious! McCulloch hits a drive which should have been a regulation catch but for some reason Vercoutre punches! It ends up as a corner.

Good work from Govou after Grosso released him, he cut inside and fired in a left foot shot but McGregor is well behind it.

Darchville is on for Papac as Rangers throw the dice.

Ooh! Kevin Thomson hits one left-footed but it flashes just wide of the post!

Allan Hutton is a lucky boy! Juninho charged towards the area and the right back flew in. The referee, inexplicably, doesn't give the foul and Rangers survive!

Ferguson tries to engineer a through ball for Naismith but he hits it far too long.

Lyon are making a change, Mathiue Bodmer is coming on for Hatem Ben Arfa. A defender on in place of a striker. Telling. Very telling.

At the other end Weir does well to edge Govou off the ball.

Now it is Hutton who misplaces a cross when well placed.

This time Whittaker's delivery lets him down after good work from Hemdani.

Rangers have Jean-Claude Darchville and Kris Boyd on the bench by way of attacking options.

With the game entering its final third it looks as if we have settled on a pattern that will dominate the remaining 26 minutes. Lyon sitting deep, Rangers punting the ball long.

A good testing cross comes in from Papac but for once Vercoutre looks relatively in control as he punches clear.

Hemdani curls in a free-kick that picked out Cuellar but he is off balance and his header flies wide.

Half an hour is all that is left of Rangers' Champions League campaign as things stand. Who's going to stick their hand up, come to the party, and prove a hero?

Whittaker leaps well to meet the free-kick but his nod across goal isn't greeted by anyone in a white Rangers shirt.

That is less pretty from Juninho, he slides in on Ferguson and is carded.

Off the bar! Juninho curls in a ripper and with McGregor helpless, the ball cannons back off the frame of the goal!

Just as I say that Lyon hit back and Toulalan goes on a mazy run - only stopped when Cuellar hacks him to the deck. He is booked for his trouble. Dangerous area to concede a free-kick, especially with Juninho lurking.

The longer time goes on, the more Lyon will sit back and invite pressure. Then it will start to get REALLY tense!

Allan Hutton sums up the new-found spirit in the home ranks after chasing down Govou for 50 yards and winning a throw-in from the French striker.

Now is the time for Rangers, the visitors are wobbling. If they sustain this possession and pressure they'll really get to see what the questionable Vercoutre is capable of.

A good spell of pressure ends in a poor ball from Hemdani. Hutton was screaming for it out wide as well.

I'll be amazed if Rangers don't pepper the keepr with shots and crosses now - he looked decidedly dodgy during that last exchange.

Ooh, so nearly an equaliser! Hutton's cross drifts towards the net Vercoutre shanks his punch and from the spillage McCulloch volleys wide.

Its been a lively start by the home side, Alan Hutton getting to the byline there and whipping in a cross that eluded McCulloch.

Poor free-kick from the Rangers skipper - straight into the wall. Rangers re-group.

Govou looks in a spot of bother after giving away that foul, he's holding his arm and wincing in pain.

Well, a signal of Rangers' attacking intent is the centre-half Papac charging forward and beating two players. The move ends in a free-kick to Rangers and a yellow card for Govou.

Smart early play by Barry Ferguson, who touches the ball back to Whittaker but he can't make space for the cross.

A massive 45 minutes ahead for Rangers. Can their industry and determination find a goal against a classy Lyon side? They've brought on Steven Naismith for Daniel Cousin which means they may well go two up top.

There is the whistle. A disappointing half for Rangers, who are being outclassed on the deck by the French side, but there is still enough passion endeavour in the home side's locker to retrieve the situation in the second half. Stay tuned...

One minute of stoppage time to play.

For all their silky attacking work Lyon still look a little suspect on crosses and Rangers are trying to play on that as the half draws to a close.

Now McCulloch looks hurt after an aerial challenge with Clerc.

Decent work at the back by Cuellar, sheparding Govou out of the danger area.

The crowd have also gone very quiet, which is unlike them.

Lyon look a very compact team - plenty of numbers when they attack but men behind the ball when they are on the defensive too.

This is the best spell Rangers have had in the half but they are still without a clear cut chance. Will it appear before half-time?

McCulloch's header was blocked then Whittaker should have hit the rebound first time but he hesitated and the danger is averted.

Lyon are claiming a free-kick as Cousin went in on Squillaci but no foul given, a corner to Rangers instead.

David Weir shows his age there, dithering when he should have stuck the ball into Row Z. He didn't, Govou steals the ball and Weir concedes a free-kick.

A poor ball from Papac nearly undid Rnagers then! Govou just failed to latch onto the stray pass, then Juninho finds Benzema inside the box but his shot is high and wide.

Its another Lyon keep ball session at present, and Juninho has been their main man in this half so far.

Great battling from Kevin Thomson, who wins a corner for Rangers.

More lovely football from Lyon, Ben Arfa flicks the ball to Kallstrom who spreads it to Grosso, his pass inside finds Govou but the goal scorer's cross is headed behind for a corner.

Steven Naismith is warming up if Papac can't continue. The big man is up and about again now and should be back imminently.

Whittaker looks like he's gone to left back while Papac's injury is assessed.

Sasa Papac is down for Rangers and is being helped onto a stretcher by some burly looking paramedics.

Its been all Lyon in the last five minutes, and they do play some wonderful flowing football. Rangers will be lucky to get in at 0-1 at this rate.

Benzema again looks threatening. He drops off into the hole, picks up a ball from Grosso and lets fly. Thankfully for the Scots he rather fluffs his drive.

Walter Smith didn't see the goal as he was busy running between the touchline and his seat in the stands.

Great counter attack by Lyon, from a Rangers free-kick Benzema broke and failed to release Govou when he was screaming for it. It could have got worse for Rangers.

A decent spell of possession for Rangers that will hopefully steady them. Barry Ferguson is at the heart of things, as usual.

Lyon have been robbed of a corner there, Grosso fired it off Hutton but Rangers get a goal kick.

Alan Hutton is booked for a wreckless challenge from behind on Govou and that rules him out of Rangers next European game, whenever it may be.

Two decent shots on target from Rangers there. Whittaker burst forward and smashed a drive in which Vercoutre parried, then Papac had a follow up shot that was a far more routine save.

So, roles are now reversed. Rangers are the ones needing a goal, whereas Lyon can just sit tight and focus on keeping a clean sheet. A complete tactical turnaround.

Rangers are reeling here; Cuellar makes a vital tackle to rob Ben Arfa of a clear run on goal. They need to steady their nerves.

The French fans are in full voice now as the home supporters put their head in their hands.

Disaster for Rangers, and they can't say they weren't warned as Govou should have converted his earlier chance.

Govou scores! Lyon have their precious goal! Benzema was released by Ben Arfa, his cross-cum-shot was parried by McGregor and Govou had a tap in. Rangers 0-1 Lyon.

Well played Alan Hutton, making sure Govou has no time on the ball.

Poor delivery for Ferguson - far too deep for all his team-mates. Chance gone.

Now, another corner for Rangers.

Walter Smith looks content with his team's start so far...

Lyon do spread the ball well in possession but there was no cut-and-thrust at the end of that move and Papac slides in to tackle Govou.

The referee has just had a word with Allan McGregor to warn him about time-wasting. There's only 11 minutes gone! The Rangers keeper nods his head wearily.

Decent curling strike round the wall but McGregor reads it well. From the corner Cuellar clears into Hemdani, his own player, and the ball just squirms wide.

Thomson has been booked for hauling down Benzema who was in full flight. Juninho to take it, worrying times for Rangers.

Decent break from Rangers and uncertainty in the Lyon area. Whittaker broke well but just couldn't direct a header from Papac's cross towards goal.

A bright start from both teams, Rangers enjoying the majority of possession but Lyon the side who produced the game's first, gilt-edged, chance. Will they come to regret that later on?

At the other end Ferguson whips in a ball towards Whittaker but goalkeeper Vercoutre clears, and the flag was up anyway.

What a glorious chance for Lyon! A superb ball from Juninho inside Alan Hutton puts in Govou but he has missed a golden chance to give the French side an early, and crucial, lead.

Juninho clears the corner and a session of head tennis ensues in the centre circle.

Whittaker is released now and his cross goes behind for a corner to the home side.

Rangers are the one's stroking it around nicely so far, and Barry Ferguson just fails to pick out McCulloch with a long ball.

Here we go, can Rangers make it six British clubs into the Champions League last 16? Let's hope so.

Here come the teams to a wall of sound.

As you'd expect, there is an immense atmosphere inside Ibrox. There can't be many more lively places to watch football in Britain once they get going.

And for Lyon: Vercoutre, Clerc, Squillaci, Anderson, Grosso, Juninho, Toulalan, Kallstrom, Govou, Benzema and Ben Arfa. Keep an eye out for striker Sidney Govou, who has interested plenty of British clubs in the past, as well as playmaker Juninho and everyone's favourite buy on a popular managerial simulation game from a few years ago, the erstwhile Kim Kallstrom.

The teams are in and it looks like Walter Smith is employing his favoured European 4-5-1 formation. They line up as follows: McGregor, Hutton, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Hemdani, Thomson, Whittaker, Ferguson, McCulloch, Cousin.

So, it was Liverpool's Champions League D-day last night, this evening it is the turn of Rangers, who only need a point to make the knock-out stages of the competition. However, their opponents Lyon need all three points to secure their passage to the last 16. It should be an intriguing evening.....

This keeper is hilarious! McCulloch hits a drive which should have been a regulation catch but for some reason Vercoutre punches! It ends up as a corner.

Good work from Govou after Grosso released him, he cut inside and fired in a left foot shot but McGregor is well behind it.

Darchville is on for Papac as Rangers throw the dice.

Ooh! Kevin Thomson hits one left-footed but it flashes just wide of the post!

Allan Hutton is a lucky boy! Juninho charged towards the area and the right back flew in. The referee, inexplicably, doesn't give the foul and Rangers survive!

Ferguson tries to engineer a through ball for Naismith but he hits it far too long.

Lyon are making a change, Mathiue Bodmer is coming on for Hatem Ben Arfa. A defender on in place of a striker. Telling. Very telling.

At the other end Weir does well to edge Govou off the ball.

Now it is Hutton who misplaces a cross when well placed.

This time Whittaker's delivery lets him down after good work from Hemdani.

Rangers have Jean-Claude Darchville and Kris Boyd on the bench by way of attacking options.

With the game entering its final third it looks as if we have settled on a pattern that will dominate the remaining 26 minutes. Lyon sitting deep, Rangers punting the ball long.

A good testing cross comes in from Papac but for once Vercoutre looks relatively in control as he punches clear.

Hemdani curls in a free-kick that picked out Cuellar but he is off balance and his header flies wide.

Half an hour is all that is left of Rangers' Champions League campaign as things stand. Who's going to stick their hand up, come to the party, and prove a hero?

Whittaker leaps well to meet the free-kick but his nod across goal isn't greeted by anyone in a white Rangers shirt.

That is less pretty from Juninho, he slides in on Ferguson and is carded.

Off the bar! Juninho curls in a ripper and with McGregor helpless, the ball cannons back off the frame of the goal!

Just as I say that Lyon hit back and Toulalan goes on a mazy run - only stopped when Cuellar hacks him to the deck. He is booked for his trouble. Dangerous area to concede a free-kick, especially with Juninho lurking.

The longer time goes on, the more Lyon will sit back and invite pressure. Then it will start to get REALLY tense!

Allan Hutton sums up the new-found spirit in the home ranks after chasing down Govou for 50 yards and winning a throw-in from the French striker.

Now is the time for Rangers, the visitors are wobbling. If they sustain this possession and pressure they'll really get to see what the questionable Vercoutre is capable of.

A good spell of pressure ends in a poor ball from Hemdani. Hutton was screaming for it out wide as well.

I'll be amazed if Rangers don't pepper the keepr with shots and crosses now - he looked decidedly dodgy during that last exchange.

Ooh, so nearly an equaliser! Hutton's cross drifts towards the net Vercoutre shanks his punch and from the spillage McCulloch volleys wide.

Its been a lively start by the home side, Alan Hutton getting to the byline there and whipping in a cross that eluded McCulloch.

Poor free-kick from the Rangers skipper - straight into the wall. Rangers re-group.

Govou looks in a spot of bother after giving away that foul, he's holding his arm and wincing in pain.

Well, a signal of Rangers' attacking intent is the centre-half Papac charging forward and beating two players. The move ends in a free-kick to Rangers and a yellow card for Govou.

Smart early play by Barry Ferguson, who touches the ball back to Whittaker but he can't make space for the cross.

A massive 45 minutes ahead for Rangers. Can their industry and determination find a goal against a classy Lyon side? They've brought on Steven Naismith for Daniel Cousin which means they may well go two up top.

There is the whistle. A disappointing half for Rangers, who are being outclassed on the deck by the French side, but there is still enough passion endeavour in the home side's locker to retrieve the situation in the second half. Stay tuned...

One minute of stoppage time to play.

For all their silky attacking work Lyon still look a little suspect on crosses and Rangers are trying to play on that as the half draws to a close.

Now McCulloch looks hurt after an aerial challenge with Clerc.

Decent work at the back by Cuellar, sheparding Govou out of the danger area.

The crowd have also gone very quiet, which is unlike them.

Lyon look a very compact team - plenty of numbers when they attack but men behind the ball when they are on the defensive too.

This is the best spell Rangers have had in the half but they are still without a clear cut chance. Will it appear before half-time?

McCulloch's header was blocked then Whittaker should have hit the rebound first time but he hesitated and the danger is averted.

Lyon are claiming a free-kick as Cousin went in on Squillaci but no foul given, a corner to Rangers instead.

David Weir shows his age there, dithering when he should have stuck the ball into Row Z. He didn't, Govou steals the ball and Weir concedes a free-kick.

A poor ball from Papac nearly undid Rnagers then! Govou just failed to latch onto the stray pass, then Juninho finds Benzema inside the box but his shot is high and wide.

Its another Lyon keep ball session at present, and Juninho has been their main man in this half so far.

Great battling from Kevin Thomson, who wins a corner for Rangers.

More lovely football from Lyon, Ben Arfa flicks the ball to Kallstrom who spreads it to Grosso, his pass inside finds Govou but the goal scorer's cross is headed behind for a corner.

Steven Naismith is warming up if Papac can't continue. The big man is up and about again now and should be back imminently.

Whittaker looks like he's gone to left back while Papac's injury is assessed.

Sasa Papac is down for Rangers and is being helped onto a stretcher by some burly looking paramedics.

Its been all Lyon in the last five minutes, and they do play some wonderful flowing football. Rangers will be lucky to get in at 0-1 at this rate.

Benzema again looks threatening. He drops off into the hole, picks up a ball from Grosso and lets fly. Thankfully for the Scots he rather fluffs his drive.

Walter Smith didn't see the goal as he was busy running between the touchline and his seat in the stands.

Great counter attack by Lyon, from a Rangers free-kick Benzema broke and failed to release Govou when he was screaming for it. It could have got worse for Rangers.

A decent spell of possession for Rangers that will hopefully steady them. Barry Ferguson is at the heart of things, as usual.

Lyon have been robbed of a corner there, Grosso fired it off Hutton but Rangers get a goal kick.

Alan Hutton is booked for a wreckless challenge from behind on Govou and that rules him out of Rangers next European game, whenever it may be.

Two decent shots on target from Rangers there. Whittaker burst forward and smashed a drive in which Vercoutre parried, then Papac had a follow up shot that was a far more routine save.

So, roles are now reversed. Rangers are the ones needing a goal, whereas Lyon can just sit tight and focus on keeping a clean sheet. A complete tactical turnaround.

Rangers are reeling here; Cuellar makes a vital tackle to rob Ben Arfa of a clear run on goal. They need to steady their nerves.

The French fans are in full voice now as the home supporters put their head in their hands.

Disaster for Rangers, and they can't say they weren't warned as Govou should have converted his earlier chance.

Govou scores! Lyon have their precious goal! Benzema was released by Ben Arfa, his cross-cum-shot was parried by McGregor and Govou had a tap in. Rangers 0-1 Lyon.

Well played Alan Hutton, making sure Govou has no time on the ball.

Poor delivery for Ferguson - far too deep for all his team-mates. Chance gone.

Now, another corner for Rangers.

Walter Smith looks content with his team's start so far...

Lyon do spread the ball well in possession but there was no cut-and-thrust at the end of that move and Papac slides in to tackle Govou.

The referee has just had a word with Allan McGregor to warn him about time-wasting. There's only 11 minutes gone! The Rangers keeper nods his head wearily.

Decent curling strike round the wall but McGregor reads it well. From the corner Cuellar clears into Hemdani, his own player, and the ball just squirms wide.

Thomson has been booked for hauling down Benzema who was in full flight. Juninho to take it, worrying times for Rangers.

Decent break from Rangers and uncertainty in the Lyon area. Whittaker broke well but just couldn't direct a header from Papac's cross towards goal.

A bright start from both teams, Rangers enjoying the majority of possession but Lyon the side who produced the game's first, gilt-edged, chance. Will they come to regret that later on?

At the other end Ferguson whips in a ball towards Whittaker but goalkeeper Vercoutre clears, and the flag was up anyway.

What a glorious chance for Lyon! A superb ball from Juninho inside Alan Hutton puts in Govou but he has missed a golden chance to give the French side an early, and crucial, lead.

Juninho clears the corner and a session of head tennis ensues in the centre circle.

Whittaker is released now and his cross goes behind for a corner to the home side.

Rangers are the one's stroking it around nicely so far, and Barry Ferguson just fails to pick out McCulloch with a long ball.

Here we go, can Rangers make it six British clubs into the Champions League last 16? Let's hope so.

Here come the teams to a wall of sound.

As you'd expect, there is an immense atmosphere inside Ibrox. There can't be many more lively places to watch football in Britain once they get going.

And for Lyon: Vercoutre, Clerc, Squillaci, Anderson, Grosso, Juninho, Toulalan, Kallstrom, Govou, Benzema and Ben Arfa. Keep an eye out for striker Sidney Govou, who has interested plenty of British clubs in the past, as well as playmaker Juninho and everyone's favourite buy on a popular managerial simulation game from a few years ago, the erstwhile Kim Kallstrom.

The teams are in and it looks like Walter Smith is employing his favoured European 4-5-1 formation. They line up as follows: McGregor, Hutton, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Hemdani, Thomson, Whittaker, Ferguson, McCulloch, Cousin.

So, it was Liverpool's Champions League D-day last night, this evening it is the turn of Rangers, who only need a point to make the knock-out stages of the competition. However, their opponents Lyon need all three points to secure their passage to the last 16. It should be an intriguing evening.....