Receive the latest news from Record Sport Rangers with our newsletter.
We have newsletters
Receive the latest news from Record Sport Rangers with our newsletter.
We have newsletters
Stand your ground and play bravely, and have any and all chances to beat a Benfica team that has vulnerabilities to expose.
That’s the view of former Hearts manager Paulo Sergio, who has given Rangers the inside direction in the last 16 Europa League opponents. It’s one of the highlights of the knockout stages, with the Premiership leaders taking on Portugal’s most no-nonsense dogs in the Primeira Liga in Lisbon a week on Thursday before the decider at Ibrox a week later and both groups are in form lately.
Philippe Clement’s side beat Hearts five times over the weekend and 24 hours later, Benfica achieved their own feat. Portimonense, led by the outstanding coach of Scottish Cup winners Hearts Sergio, arrived in the city and left with their tails between their legs after a 4-0 scoreline. But Sergio believes there’s much more to it than just the eye. Although his team was beaten at the Estadio da Luz, he noted that they had squandered several chances in the first half before a second-half bombardment. Benfica scored 3 goals in 4 minutes.
And he believes that Benfica gives opportunities to groups because of their taste in football. Sergio said: “We controlled creating five clever chances in the first half against Benfica because we hindered them with our movement. The way they play, chances can be created if you’re in a position to attack.
“If you’re forged defensively against Benfica, then you have a chance and we were there in the first half. But we had a crazy four-minute era in which Benfica were very effective and we conceded three goals. “They’re a smart attacking team. In fact, I don’t think it’s a game that deserves to have ended 4-0 against Benfica. “
Benfica will face bitter rivals Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Cup semi-finals on Wednesday and away Porto before Rangers.