***** The Official Benfica v Rangers Europa League Round of 16 Match Thread *****

[PromDeAnglais 5,471]

Thursday, 7th of March, 20:00

Live: TNT Sports 1

Venue: Estádio da Luz, Lisbon

 

Form Guide:

Benfica: LLWDW

Rangers: LWWWW

 

Available Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Robby McCrorie, Kieran Wright.

Defenders: James Tavernier, Ridvan Yilmaz, John Souttar, Connor Goldson, Dujon Sterling, Ben Davies, Borna Barisic.

Midfielders: John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Mohamed Diomande, Nico Raskin.

Forwards: Fabio Silva, Cyriel Dessers, Tom Lawrence, Todd Cantwell*, Rabbi Matondo, Abdallah Sima*, Scott Wright, Kemar Roofe.

*Injured

[.Williamson. 82,226]

Butland

Tav Goldson Souttar Yilmaz

Lundstram Lawrence

Sterling Diomande Silva

Dessers

1-1 and bring them back to Ibrox for a pumping. Hwfg Dublin we’re on our way 

[born a blue nose 90,785]

Matondo fit?

[STEPPS BOY 73,923]

Could not give a single fuck.

The next two Sundays are bigger.

 

[PromDeAnglais 5,471]

2 minutes ago, born a blue nose said:

Matondo fit?

Back in training according to Clement so possibly on the bench.

[Jelavic191 4,448]

Would love to get a result but can't see many goals with our injuries in attack. 

[The Godfather 71,895]

36 minutes ago, STEPPS BOY said:

Could not give a single fuck.

The next two Sundays are bigger.

 

Pretty much this. 

Domestic is king just now. 

 

[superallysbears 7,583]

This might actually be good for the team, focus the heart's and mind's to a different challenge, wee bit time away from the league also should be welcomed as it's been almost constant since the winter break.

[LegendofCoop 17,304]

Don't know whether to stick or twist with this tie. European nights are fucking amazing and it would a massive confidence boost getting past this tie. Would also be incredible to get to the final again, but on the other hand, we can't afford injuries. 

[OrangeRab 2,745]

Not worried about any result derailing the season. 

We’ve had a few seasons we’ve outperformed in Europe and it’s done nothing for our domestic form.

No injuries, manage the legs in a few of the key players. Hope we get a result. 

[G.E.C. 18,778]

We’ll either win 2-1, draw 3-3 or lose 4-2

[Ivybank 4,580]

Porto currently beating Benfica 3 nil

[chris182 6,297]

4 nil Porto 

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,725]

           Butland

Tav Goldson Souttar Yilmaz 

     Lundstram Sterling 

Silva. Lawrence Wright

           Dessers.

 

There's no perfect 11 but I reckon the most important roles are the two holding players. Sort that with Sterling in there then try to plug gaps with what's left.

[MattyBlue 17,117]

5 😅 hope they don’t take it out on us 

they have some team on paper tbf, with our injuries and limited squad could be a real tough night 

[Bad Robot 21,150]

17 minutes ago, MattyBlue said:

5 😅 hope they don’t take it out on us 

they have some team on paper tbf, with our injuries and limited squad could be a real tough night 

We’ll take some goals from them with the state of that defence 💙

[ayro 3,001]

Butland

Tav Goldson Souttar Barisic

Jack

Sterling Lundstram Diomande Wright

Silva

Priority has to be domestic competition but would prefer not to get a pumping, with the lack of options that may be inevitable.

 

 

 

 

[Iakona 2,260]

It’s a free hit for me. What’s happens, happens. Just need to avoid a thumping. 

[PromDeAnglais 5,471]

Porto needed that to stay in touch with the leaders, 5-0 is a thumping nobody seen coming.

Biggest defeat for Benfica in 7 years apparently, biggest league defeat in almost 15 years.

No doubt a very tough game for us but that could be a crushing defeat for them. 

[Laudo 31]

              Butland

Tav Goldson Souttar Yilmaz 

     Lundstram Sterling 

Silva  Diomande  Lawrence  

           Roofe

[Drunk and disorderly. 14,441]

Looking forwards to this game.

Keep the score reasonable and finish them off at Ibrox and into the next round.

[stuart1994 4,303]

Seen a bit of their play off round game against Toulouse. They give up good chances, just a question wether we have the quality to take them. 

[MattyBlue 17,117]

17 minutes ago, stuart1994 said:

Seen a bit of their play off round game against Toulouse. They give up good chances, just a question wether we have the quality to take them. 

We have Cyriel Dessers is what we have 

[Drunk and disorderly. 14,441]

7 hours ago, STEPPS BOY said:

Could not give a single fuck.

The next two Sundays are bigger.

 

Going to the cinema Thursday night then mate?

Or is it swimming with the wife?

[Darth Bear 15,096]

28 minutes ago, MattyBlue said:

We have Cyriel Dessers is what we have 

Best get behind the lad then 👍

We have done well against Portuguese teams lately and they will be wary of us. Thought it was a decent draw when it was made with us having a good chance to go through.