On Thursday night, Rangers will host Benfica at Ibrox for the second leg of their Europa League last-16 contest, one week after their exciting 2-2 first-leg stalemate in Lisbon.

Both teams are vying for a spot in the quarterfinals, and the match is in a precarious position after the Gers were twice held to a draw.

Top 3 marketsBest odds at bookmakers
Both teams to score: 🥅1.56 at Bet9ja
Both teams to score : 🥅1.55 at 1xbet
Rangers to qualify: ✅2.05 at Sportybet

Rangers and Benfica: Previous Games 

Their recent record against one another, which stands at three wins in three games, serves as further evidence that these two teams cannot be divided. While Benfica has won six of their ten encounters against Scottish opponents, Rangers’ record against other Portuguese teams is respectable, with ten victories in eighteen matches.

See our Australian Grand Prix 2024 predictions.

After a 2-0 victory against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup, Rangers are riding high heading into this crucial meeting. Phillipe Clement, the manager, started the same eleven players against Benfica last week, and he will likely start the same eleven against Valencia on Thursday. Five starters, including Danilo Higuain and Todd Cantwell, are sidelined with injuries.

Probable Rangers Lineup

Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Yilmaz; Lundstram, Diomande; Matondo, Lawrence, Silva; Roofe

Probable Benfica Lineup

Trubin; Bah, A. Silva, Otamendi, Aursnes; Neves, Luis; Neres, R. Silva; Di Maria; Leonardo

Betting tips: Rangers x Benfica

Check out our predictions of the day for Rangers vs. Benfica

Prediction 1: Rangers x Benfica / Rangers to win or draw

Both Rangers and Benfica have scored twice in each of their past three Europa League encounters, which have all finished in draws. On Thursday, something will give way, but it might be another fascinating end-to-end battle.

After last weekend’s domestic victory, Benfica will be bolstered by a new group of alternatives in crucial parts of the field, while Rangers are missing a number of starters due to injury. On a significant European night, however, the Gers might be helped along by the Ibrox factor as the home crowd cheers them on to yet another unforgettable home win.

Prediction 2: Rangers x Benfica / Both teams to score

When looking at the next Rangers vs. Benfica encounter, it is quite probable that both clubs will score, given their offensive prowess and defensive records.

This prognosis is further supported by their performances in the first leg of this tie and the historical backdrop of their confrontations, which high-scoring draws have marked. This situation takes into account both sides’ scoring capabilities and the evenly matched quality of the matchup since each side has shown strengths that are comparable to the other’s.

Prediction 3: Rangers x Benfica / Rangers to qualify

Benfica were the better team in last week’s match. After Thursday night, Roger Schmidt will realize that his team is in for a tough fight. You will not like playing football at Ibrox. The Portuguese team will feel let down since they did not bring a lead.

This matchup is difficult to predict. The odds favor Benfica by a small margin. Rangers have 2.75 times the odds to win and 1.95 times the odds to qualify, compared to 2.40 for Schmidt’s men. This encounter at Ibrox is going to be difficult to back against the hosts. They have already beaten Sparta Prague and Real Betis this year. It was August when PSV, a Dutch club, played here. It was a 2-2 draw.

As a team, Benfica is superior. They boast more talented athletes. Sometimes, team success takes precedence over individual brilliance in football. In a Rangers game, everyone pitches in to help each other out. There will be a raging inferno because Rangers supporters will be there.

Just three times in sixteen months have the Rangers lost at this stadium. Against a Benfica side that the hostile environment might rattle, we’re rooting for their victory. On their last two away days, Sporting and Porto both defeated Benfica. The Rangers’ chances of eking out a victory are high.