Rangers: Benfica plagued before of Europa League encounter with latest expose.
Benfica are “riddled with weaknesses” ahead of their Europa League round of 16 clash with Rangers.
That is according to writer Stephen McGowan, with the first leg slated to take place in Portugal on Thursday (7 March).
The return leg is planned for Ibrox on 14 March, with Rangers making it to the knockout stages after topping their group.
“Despite a turnover of £167million – almost exactly double the Rangers figure of £84million – Benfica are a team riddled with weaknesses,” McGowan wrote for the Scottish Daily Mail (page 69, 6 March). “In recent seasons, the Ibrox side have exploited the turmoil of European opponents and a weekend 5-0 defeat to Porto has placed coach Roger Schmidt under severe pressure.
“Despite landing Argentine World Cup winner Angel Di Maria for a second spell and boasting two outstanding talents in 20-year-old Portuguese international central defender Antonio Silva and 19-year-old midfielder Joao Neves, the Portuguese champions have been underwhelming in Europe.
“They lost the first four games of their Champions League group and finished a distant third to Real Sociedad and Inter Milan. They also clung on against French mid-table team Toulouse in the Europa League play-off round.”
Can Rangers upset Benfica in the Europa League?
Benfica have undoubtedly had a tough time of it in Europe this season, but their perseverance and really superb roster means they still have a chance of silverware.
They will, of course, be upset that it won’t arrive in the form of the Champions League, but the Europa League trophy would still be a tremendous triumph for the Portuguese club.
Standing in their way, however, are the Gers, who should be quietly confident given how they topped a tough Group C.
At one moment it seemed that the Ibrox club would not even progress to the next level, but a miraculous turn of events saw them claim top spot.
Philippe Clement’s team do, however, head into the game on the back of a hugely disappointing defeat to Motherwell, who earned a shock 2-1 Scottish Premiership triumph at Ibrox on Saturday (2 March).
With Benfica having also lost at the weekend, neither team will want to slip up in Portugal on Thursday night.
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