By Rangers host Benfica in a UEFA Europa League Group D clash at Ibrox on Thursday evening.
Both sides are level on points at the top of the group after a thrilling draw at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon three weeks ago.
Rangers went into a 3-1 lead after Nicolas Otamendi was sent off, only to be pegged back by late goals from Rafa Silva and Darwin Nunez.
? The @EuropaLeague returns to Ibrox this week. pic.twitter.com/GfLxhCWTzT
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) November 23, 2020
Since that game, Steven Gerrard’s men have scored 12 goals in two Scottish Premier League games – winning 8-0 against Hamilton Academical, and then 4-0 against Aberdeen.
Since that draw, Benfica have lost 3-2 to Braga in the league, while they beat Paredes 1-0 in the Portuguese cup over the weekend.
Who’ll be celebrating on Thursday? ?#UEL
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) November 24, 2020
Rangers vs Benfica head-to-head
The draw at the Estadio da Luz three week ago was the first time that Rangers and Benfica faced each other in a competitive match.
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Rangers form guide: W-W-D-W-W
Benfica form guide: W-L-D-L-W
Rangers vs Benfica team news
Gerrard has a fully fit squad, apart from Nikola Katic, who is still recovering from a ruptured ACL.
Injured: Nikola Katic
Suspended: None
Benfica centre-back Nicolas Otamendi is suspended, after he picked up a red card in the reverse fixture three weeks ago. Jardel is likely to come in to replace the Argentine player and partner Jan Vertonghen at the heart of the defence.
Moroccan attacking midfielder Adel Taarabt has tested positive for COVID-19, and will not feature for Benfica. Midfielder Julian Weigl and striker Darwin Nunez are in the same boat, after both tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week. Nunez was the game-changer in the reverse fixture, so he will be a big miss for Jorge Jesus’ side.
Jean-Clair Todibo, Andre Almeida, Nuno Tavares, and Pedrinho are also ruled out of this game, while Andreas Samaris is unregistered for the Europa League.
Injured: Jean-Clair Todibo, Nuno Taveres, Pedrinho, Andre Almeida
Unavailable: Julian Weigl, Darwin Nunez, Abel Taarabt, Andreas Samaris
Suspensions: Nicolas Otamendi
Rangers vs Benfica Predicted XI
Rangers Predicted XI (4-3-3): Alan McGregor; James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Filip Helander, Borna Barisic; Steven Davis, Glen Kamara, Scott Arfield; Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Ianis Hagi
Benfica Predicted XI (4-3-3): Odysseas Vlachodimos; Diogo Goncalves, Jardel, Jan Vertonghen, Alex Grimaldo; Gabriel Pires, Pizzi, Everton, Rafa Silva; Haris Seferovic, Luca Waldschmidt
Rangers vs Benfica Prediction
This promises to be a close game, but with so many players unavailable for Benfica, the scales tilt slightly in Rangers’ favor. We are predicting a narrow win for Gerrard’s side.
Prediction: Rangers 2-1 Benfica
