After the storm comes the calm… as the Portuguese saying goes and, at least, that’s what Benfica fans hope for after an anniversary week to forget.
The Eagles return to the field, now for the Europa League, with only one option in mind: winning. After the defeat in Alvalade and the defeat in the dragon, Roger Schmidt’s team is between a rock and a hard place and it is necessary to leave a good figure in Luz.
Benfica wants to find the path to victory again against Rangers, who in the last round tasted defeat again after eleven rounds to win, nine of them counting for the Scottish championship.
Moment of form: After the storm, the calm incarnate?
Benfica hosts Rangers, after a heavy defeat at Dragão, by 5-0, which marked the return to winning ways in the I League. Just last week, in the eternal derby, Roger Schmdit’s team also lost to Alvalade, 2-1, counting for the Portuguese Cup.
However, Benfica wants to turn around the difficult moment and to do so they have to beat Rangers in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League.
In turn, after falling in the Champions League, given third place in group D, behind Inter and Real Sociedad, the Reds had to overcome Toulouse, to reach the round of 16 of the competition. The Eagles won 2-1 in Lisbon, and on French soil they had to suffer to secure passage to the next stage of the European competition.
After having used a mobile attack, in Alvalade, against Sporting, with Rafa as the most advanced member of the attacking front, Roger Schmidt once again opted for a fixed striker, in Dragão, with Tengstedt at the front. However, after the defeat, it is likely that the German coach will once again change the team that will start against Rangers.
The only casualty for the Scottish team is Juan Bernat, who continues to recover from an injury, as Alexander Bah already trained, without conditioning, on Wednesday morning.
In first place in the Scottish championship, Rangers come to light after a 2-1 defeat against Motherwell, which broke a period of eleven consecutive games to win.
In the Europa League, Rangers were leaders of Group C, ahead of Sparta, Betis and Limassol, with eleven points, the result of three wins, two draws and one defeat, against the Cyprus club, 2-1.
Confrontation history:
Benfica and Rangers have only faced each other on two occasions, coincidentally also counting for the Europa League, but for the group stage of the competition in the 2020/2021 season, with both meetings ending in a draw.
In the only visit to Luz, there was a 3-3 draw, in a game marked by the expulsion of Otamendi, in the 19th minute, already 1-0 on the scoreboard. Against 10, Rangers managed to make it 1-3, but, in the final part, Rafa and Darwin managed to hold the tie.
In turn, in Scotland, Rangers also had two goals ahead (2-0), but an own goal from Tavernier and a goal from Pizzi returned to a draw against the Glasgow team.
However, against Scottish teams, the record smiles on Benfica, since after 12 games, the Eagles have six wins, three draws and three defeats. The Reds have already beaten Celtic and Hearts, always in games counting for the Champions League.
The last duel against Scottish teams was against Rangers, and, in knockout matches, it is the third time they have faced Scottish teams, after overcoming Hearts, en route to the 1960/61 European title, against Celtic, in 1969/70.
The Eagles’ biggest victories were against Celtic, 3-0, in the 2006/2007 season and, against Hearts, also 3-0, in 1960/61. In terms of goals, the Reds also have the upper hand with 19 goals, compared to the 14 scored by the Scottish teams.
Rangers have played eight rounds against Portuguese teams, having been eliminated only once, against FC Porto, in the 1983/84 Cup Winners’ Cup. On Portuguese soil, the Scottish team has three wins, four draws and four defeats.
What the coaches say:
Roger Schmidt, Benfica coach: “It’s a different competition, the third in seven days. We know that in this competition and in the round of 16 we have very difficult opponents. Rangers are a good team. They play directly with a lot of transitions. They exploit depth and we have to accept this style game. They have a lot of intensity. We have to show a complete performance. And we have to use the advantage of playing at home. We have to have a good reaction after Sunday”
Philippe Clément, Rangers coach: “I believe we can make history. I hope to have an excellent performance. We are very motivated. We want to win. If we have to defend the result in the last minutes, we will do that too. Then we will have a second chance at home, but not for now. I want to think about it. I want the squad to be focused on tomorrow’s game [quinta-feira]”
Arbitration team:
The UEFA Arbitration Council appointed referee Tobias Stieler for the match counting for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League, with compatriots Christian Gittelmann and Robert Kempter as assistant referees and Harm Osmers as fourth official. Marco Fritz will be the video referee, with assistance from Soren Storks.
Benfica welcomes Rangers, at Estádio da Luz, this Thursday, in a game counting for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League, starting at 8pm and can be followed, EVERY MINUTE, on SAPO Desportowith photos and videos of the main highlights.