Benfica v Rangers: Europa League predictions, betting preview, free tip & TV

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Benfica v Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 5.55pm Thursday

Best bet

Rangers or draw double chance
1pt 20-21 BoyleSports

Team news

Benfica
Jean-Clair Todibo (Achilles), Andre Almeida (knee) and Alejandro Grimaldo (ankle) are sidelined.

Rangers
Jordan Jones and George Edmundson are self isolating after breaking Covid-19 protocols but neither are part of Rangers Europa League squad.

Match preview

Rangers have not tasted defeat since a 1-0 loss at Leverkusen in last season's Europa League round of 16 in August, and they can show they have learned from the experience by securing at least a draw against Benfica in Lisbon.

After the Leverkusen loss, Rangers boss Steven Gerrard admitted his side had been second-best on the night.

However, his team have hardly put a foot wrong over the past three months and have taken six points in the Europa League after victories at Standard Liege and at home to Lech Poznan.

Good teams win in different ways and Rangers showed a steely side during a downpour in Liege, keeping their composure and a clean sheet despite the horrendous conditions.

The contest against Benfica poses more of a technical challenge but Rangers approach it with bundles of confidence, having won their last eight matches.

Benfica are also used to winning games but have questions to answer after a surprise 3-0 loss at Boavista on Monday.

They relinquished top spot, falling a point behind city rivals Sporting, but command respect at the Stadium of Light, where they have racked up seven successive home victories.

Head coach Jorge Jesus has had to reshape his squad after the departure of striker Carlos Vinicius and centre-back Ruben Dias to Tottenham and Manchester City.

There have been funds for new arrivals and Benfica appear to have recruited well with Nicolas Otamendi and Jan Vertonghen forming an experienced centre-back partnership and centre-forward Luca Waldschmidt making an immediate impact, netting five goals in eight appearances after arriving from Freiburg.

Benfica's transfer budget far exceeds the funds available to Rangers but there may not be much of a difference on the pitch.

Getting value for money has been a key aspect of Gerrard's remit and he has worked wonders to date by quickly establishing the Gers as a Europa League force.

Among Rangers' outstanding performers this season are centre-back Leon Balogun (snapped up from Wigan) and winger Ryan Kent, who arrived from Liverpool having failed to make a single Premier League appearance.

Gerrard has built a team who are nine points clear of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership and are well-placed to reach the Europa League knockout stages for a second successive season.

Benfica away should be one of the Gers' toughest tasks of the campaign but Gerrard's side are ready for the challenge and have every chance of returning to Glasgow with at least a point and possibly three.

Key stat

Rangers are unbeaten in 18 matches this season.

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