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Rangers confirmed starting XI to face Lyon in Europa League has some fans confused

Photo by Johannes Simon - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Johannes Simon - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
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Rangers complete their Europa League group stage campaign tonight when they face Lyon at the Groupama Stadium – and Gers boss Gio van Bronckhorst has made six changes to the side that beat Dundee on Sunday.

Jon McLaughlin, Nathan Patterson, John Lundstram, Scott Wright, Ryan Kent and Kemar Roofe all come into the starting XI.

They take the places of Allan McGregor, James Tavernier, Scott Arfield, Joe Aribo, Fashion Jr and Alfredo Morelos

With both sides already qualified for the knockout phase, tonight’s game is little more than a dead rubber and van Bronckhorst has taken the chance to give some of his fringe players a chance to impress.

Lyon kicked off Group A by beating Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox on Matchday 1, Karl TokoEkambi’s 23rd-minute strike – the first of his six goals in the group stage – before a James Tavernier own goal completed the scoring and capped off a miserable start for the Light Blues.

However, a 2-0 win over Sparta Prague on Matchday 5 was enough to seal second place in the group and a place in Monday’s Playoff Round draw with the likes of Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund.

Rangers fans on Twitter are looking forward to seeing if they can get some revenge on Lyon after the opening day loss – as well as raking in another £535,000 for the Ibrox coffers.

There’s no place whatsoever in the squad for the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Fashion Sakala with the Gers having no other striker available other than Kemar Roofe – leaving some fans scratching their heads.

However with both one booking away from suspension, it may just be that both have been rested to avoid any potential issues.

Rangers: McLaughlin, Patterson, Goldson, Bassey, Barisic, Lundstram, Kamra, Hagi, Kent, Wright, Roofe.

Substitutes: McGregor, McCrorie, Arfield, Aribo, Bacuna, Davis, Kelly, Tavernier.

Lyon: Pollersbeck; Vogel, Da Silva, Lukeba, Henrique; Caqueret, Keita; Cherki, Shaqiri, Ekambi; Dembele.

Substitutes: Lopes, Bonnevie, Emerson, Aouar, Dusto, Slimani, Mendes, Boateng, Bruno Guimaraes, Barcola

Here are some of the comments from Rangers fans ahead of facing Lyon tonight in the Europa League: