The Europa League often produces plenty of excitement and we predict more of the same in this round of a16 first leg match.
The game between Benfica and Rangers will take place on the 6th of March at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica. The hosts are currently second in the Portuguese Primeira Liga while the visitors are top of the Scottish Premiership.
Benfica come into the match on the back of a humiliating 5-0 loss against rivals Porto in the Primeira Liga on the weekend. It was a hugely disappointing result for Benfica and having conceded the opening goal in the 20th minute, they found themselves 2-0 down at half time.
Treino #UEL | #SLBRFC https://t.co/fjKrb6TdHJ— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) March 6, 2024
Treino #UEL | #SLBRFC https://t.co/fjKrb6TdHJ
Into the second half and Porto pilled on the misery with 3 more goals as Benfica were reduced to 10 men.
The defeat against Porto means Benfica have won only 1 of their 4 most recent fixtures in all competitions. The win came over Portimonense at home in the Primeira Liga but there was a 2-1 loss at Sporting Lisbon in the Taca de Portugal plus a 0-0 draw at Toulouse in the Europa League.
Trends show Benfica have won only 1 of their 5 most recent matches in the Europa League but have tasted just 1 defeat in their last 11 games in the competition. Benfica are undefeated in each of their last 13 home Europa League games but 3 of the last 6 matches have ended in draws.
There have been over 2.5 goals in 7 of Benfica’s 8 most recent Europa League games on home soil, with both teams scoring in 3 of their last 4 fixtures.
Rangers make the trip to the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica having suffered a disappointing 2-1 home defeat against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. Motherwell led 1-0 at the interval but Rangers equalised in the 60th minute. It was Motherwell who scored the only other goal in the game in the 75th minute.
The defeat against Motherwell was the first loss for Rangers in their 12 most recent competitive fixtures in all competitions. They have won 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Statistics show Rangers are undefeated in 5 of their last 6 Europa League games. They are undefeated in each of their last 2 away Europa League matches and have seen both teams score in 3 of their last 4 on the road.
Looking ahead to the team news and Benfica have just one injury concern with Juan Bernat a doubt due to a muscle problem.
Rangers travel without several players due to injury. Oscar Cortes, Todd Cantwell, Rabbi Matondo, Kieran Dowell, Abdallah Sima, and Danilo Pereira are all unavailable.
The head-to-head record of the teams stands at 2 draws and we could be in for another close game. That does not mean it will be a negative match and we expect goals, with both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals in total. That makes 2-2 a potential final score.