*****The Official Rangers v SL Benfica Thread*****

[wewillfollowrangers 8,940]

Disappointed with the result but cant find fault with the performance , if offered to be unbeaten v benfica after 2 games I would have bitten your hand off, we remain unbeaten and we go again v the Belgians to hopefully secure qualification.

What a goal from Roofe, an absolute peach, deserved to be a winner.

[Jimbeamjunior 15,709]

Just now, Leeds_Bear said:

Same I’m happy but could be happier. Game was crying out for Barker’s runs in behind (can’t believe I just said that! 😂)

Nah we badly missed someone like jack coming on, they had far too much time to work the ball about the middle of the park, and it dragged in our wider players meaning they could spray it wide and then run at us

[Prso's headband 22,652]

Annoyed we have to play a full strength team next Thursday now tbh

[King Jela 12,032]

Massive pressure next week to beat Liege imo. 

[Zappa6995 1,770]

No subs is absolutely pish poor management

[stuart1994 698]

Again can’t switch off against great opposition. European football can be a hard lesson. 

[Raligt 1,011]

Just now, Ger_onimo said:

We were clearly knackered though

But the game was so close it could have disrupted our shape on the pitch. 100% with Gerrard on this one. 

 

2 sloppy goals. We shouldve had a pen and shouldve won. Will still get through in the group so not end of the world.

[scott12003 578]

1 minute ago, Raligt said:

I agree with the manager in not making any changes. I dont think he wanted to disrupt tempo of the game.

As a sub you always find it difficult coming into a game like that.

the whole point is to disrupt the tempo we had none!

[Sparkle 32,533]

2 minutes ago, Laudrupsleftfoot said:

Players to a man put in an unbelievable shift.

They’ll be even more gutted than we are after their efforts 

[molesmole 293]

Gutted at 2 draws with Benfica. 

Says how well we have played this year. 

Unlucky at their first , and same story wasteful with other chances. 

 

They are a very decent through, and we showed a good account of ourselves in both games. 

 

[Bronzy 15,687]

Just now, King Jela said:

Massive pressure next week to beat Liege imo. 

Not really, a draw is enough.

[Bill8972 257]

Can't see either Standard Liege or Lech Poznan beating both Benfica and Us. So almost a cert for us to go through.

[Jamie1387 47]

Can’t do much about the goals their second was fantastic football. They are a top quality side and they are going to get create chances. We played very well and great goals as well. The only reason I can’t think we didn’t make subs is not to disrupt the team in a game like this. I’m sure in the last game against them their goals came after our subs and we lost our shape a bit. I would have changed it last 5 minutes maybe Kent for Itten

[jamess 1,615]

An open game between 2 good teams ending in a draw. We had more chances.

[BlueThunder 4,990]

4 minutes ago, the goal machine said:

Arses collapsed in both games. Subs should have been made as the players looked dead on their feet. Gerrard's doing a cracking job but his game management is probably his biggest weakness.

No, arses didn’t collapse. If anything we were too gung ho in the first match.

In that match there we were shattered and the team should have been freshened up for the latter stages. Hell, we were still trying to score the winner at the end when I was shouting about just seeing it out for the point.

[RDB14 1,072]

5 points clear with 2 games left including a home game and finished our games against the top seeds in the group.  About as good as a Europa group is ever going to be for us.

The manner of the draws with Benfica are disappointing but the reality is that if we are going to have these late mini collapses and learn from them then I would much rather they come in Europe than in a game against celtic.  These 2 games have given us something to go and work on in the training ground so that when we are 2-0 up against the scum (again) in January we will have learned from this and go and close the game out.  As disappointed as I am, I'm also very happy we didn't concede a 3rd as that would have really knocked the stuffing out of us.  We hit the bar, had a stonewall pen denied and their first goal was just jammy imo bouncing off Tav. 

We can win our remaining games, both of which we will be favourites for imo and we will top the group.  Not much to be sad about here.  

[Smile 22,908]

We should also have had a penalty and a sending off Jan Vertonghen caught that ball.

 

 

[Cracked Actor 482]

Would have taken a draw before the start in both games against Benfica but our lack of substitutions is a problem. Fresh legs on, fresh problems for tiring defenders and midfielders to cope with. 

Worked for Benfica; why are we not doing it? 

[MarcusDa Beasley 466]

He played well overall tonight but just fucking put that chance away Alfie and we’re through.

[real boydie9 3,201]

Stevie G not making changes when Benfica scored their first goal was a massive error. In fact he should have made changes when we went 2 up. Disappointing, however, still undefeated and sitting joint top, i think we'd all have taken that before the group stages started.

[Leeds_Bear 6,655]

Just now, Jimbeamjunior said:

Nah we badly missed someone like jack coming on, they had far too much time to work the ball about the middle of the park, and it dragged in our wider players meaning they could spray it wide and then run at us

Aye but he wasn’t on the bench?! 

[My Fathers Scarf 527]

Great result over 2 games against a champs league quality team full of quality players. Hold your head up high Gers. Could of been better but...

[RS4_wul 2,006]

Twice I've went for a pish late on when we've been beating them and twice they've equalised.  Sorry.

 

We will still win our group though 

[Raligt 1,011]

Just now, scott12003 said:

the whole point is to disrupt the tempo we had none!

Neither did they. They were fucked and we let them back into the game. We had to control the lead better.

You could see they stopped chasing balls around, exactly what happened over in Portugal.

[EastEnclosureBear 1,806]

Just now, Zappa6995 said:

No subs is absolutely pish poor management

Some folk will try and have you believe it’s not pish as Benfica are a good side. When we should have beaten that good side twice.