Benfica-Rangers is a match valid for the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 and is played Thursday at 9 p.m.: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
After finishing two years in a row among the continent’s top eight, today Benfica must “settle” for playing in the Europa League, a competition to which they were relegated last fall. Roger Schmidt’s men have been disastrous in the Champions League this year, finishing third but only by the skin of their teeth in the group with Inter Milan, Real Sociedad and Salzburg. And so far they have not impressed in the minor cup either, as they needed a goal from Di Maria in full recovery to get the better of Toulouse in the play-off: the former Juventus Argentine decided the first leg (2-1), then the return leg in France ended 0-0.
Since the Occitan trip, Benfica has played three games, losing two of them: the red and whites in the space of a few days surrendered first to city rivals Sporting in the first semifinal of the national cup (2-1), while in the league, last Sunday, they were literally swept away by Porto at the do Dragao (5-0), even remaining in ten due to Otamendi’s expulsion. Debacle of which Sporting immediately took advantage, taking back the top of the standings and going to +1 on their historical enemies. In short, this is not the Benfica we admired last season, the one that until April had not missed a single shot.
Balanced double challenge
The double challenge with Rangers, which thanks to the first place in the group with Sparta Prague, Betis and Aris Limassol managed to avoid the play-offs, promises to be much more balanced than expected.
The Scots, led by Belgian Philippe Clement, are also first in the Premiership, two points ahead of Celtic. Last weekend, however, they took a big risk, as a surprising home defeat to Motherwell (1-2) could have cost them overtaking their cousins, who were also defeated by Hearts. Clement in Lisbon will not be able to count on the entire squad: Cantwell, Danilo, Roofe, Dowell, Sima and Matondo will be missing. In attack, the former Monaco coach will rely on Dessers, who played in Serie A with Cremonese last year, while Fabio Silva will initially remain on the bench. Benfica without Bernat and Prestianni: the main doubts are in attack for Schmidt, who has to choose one between former Fiorentina player Cabral and Leonardo.
The prediction
Benfica have never lost in front of their home crowd in the Europa League, winning 21 times in the 27 home matches played in this competition. However, the Red and White are not very continuous today and have not yet solved most of their problems, despite having a respectable squad. They will avoid defeat but Rangers are likely to score at least one goal.
The likely Benfica-Rangers lineups
BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Aursnes, Antonio Silva, Otamendi, Alvaro Fernandez; Joao Neves, Kocku; Di Maria, Rafa Silva, David Neres; Cabral.
RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic; Lundstram, Diomande; McCausland, Lawrence, Cortes; Dessers.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
