Third time lucky for Rangers with referee that did Steven Gerrard a favour.

Given how many games Rangers have played in Europe over the last six seasons, we are bound to come across and meet a familiar face, not just Benfica, but also the referee in charge on this occasion.

Despite a lack of players, Gers manager Philippe Clement hopes to achieve a victory that will allow the team to advance to Ibrox. Many members of the squad have previously played here and achieved success.

German coach Tobias Stieler will lead Rangers against Benfica, with fans hoping for a positive outcome.

Rangers will hope it’s third time lucky versus Benfica.

The name may not be immediately identifiable, which is most likely due to the fact that we have failed to win with him in the two previous games.

Stieler is a regular in the Champions League, Europa League, and at international level. When Rangers returned to Europe’s best competition, the Bundesliga referee was the man in the middle versus Ajax on matchday 1.

The less said about the 4-0 loss, the better.

His first game officiating for the Rangers was a surreal experience.

Rangers had already been knocked out of Champions League qualification by Malmo in 2021, and they were rewarded with a trip to Armenia in temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or more.

They also had to travel without their first-choice goalkeeper, captain, or Steven Gerrard, who were all absent due to Covid-19.

Rangers only had a 1-0 advantage going into the second leg due to John Lundstram’s red card at Ibrox, which he struggled to recover from in the eyes of the crowd.

Rangers fielded a good lineup but struggled, with Joe Aribo hitting the woodwork and Alfredo Morelos having an off-night.

Only two one-on-one chances were missed.

Stieler’s dismissal of James Santos das Neves shortly before half-time eased the tension in the match.

Already on a yellow card for petulance, the winger opted, for some reason, to flick a boot at Robby McCrorie’s head while nowhere near the ball.

And off he went.

It would be great if Stieler could do Rangers a similar service against Benfica.

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