There is complete balance after the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals and the challenge between Rangers and Braga is no exception. Seven days ago the Portuguese side proved once again to be very solid at home, winning the first of the two rounds thanks to a goal scored at the end of the first half by the usual Abel Ruiz, who had already played a starring role in the round of 16 against Monaco. At the Municipal Stadium, the Lusitanians have yet to concede a goal in the knockout phase: apart from the Principality and the Scots, Sheriff Tiraspol were also left empty-handed in the round of 16.
A worrying statistic for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men was the number of shots conceded in Matheus’ defence: not a single one, showing that Carlos Carvalhal’s red-and-whites, always very organised and occupying all areas of the pitch in the non-possession phase, had no trouble scoring. It must also be said that Rangers had arrived in Portugal just hours after the painful defeat in the Old Firm against Celtic: a slip-up that practically compromised their title plans. Ramsey and his team-mates got back on the march last Sunday, overwhelming St. Mirren 4-0, but the gap to their hated green-and-white cousins remains wide.
On the other hand, Braga’s positive momentum continued, and after their narrow victory over the Scots, they imposed themselves with the same result on Vizela, digging a real furrow between the fourth position and the pursuers. Unapproachable, however, are the three big names (Porto, Sporting, Benfica) who have apparently already ‘booked’ the top three places in the Primeira Liga.
Carlos Carvalhal ©️Ansafoto
The Prediction
The atmosphere at Ibrox is usually a boon for Rangers, who are likely to show a different performance to the extremely passive one in the first leg. They should get at least a positive result against a Braga side that tends to be more vulnerable away. The total goals will be at least two.
Rangers-Braga
likely line-ups.
RANGERS (4-2-3-1): McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Bassey; Kamara, Jack; Ayodele-Aribo, Ramsey, Kent; Roofe.
BRAGA (3-4-2-1): Matheus; Fabiano, Carmo, Tormena; Couto, Musrati, A. Horta, Gomes; R. Horta, Medeiros; Ruiz.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
