BENFICA V RANGERS BET BUILDER TIPS
Rangers (+2)
Both Teams To Score
Rafa Silva To Have 1 Or More Shots On Target
Mohamed Diomande To Have 1 Or More Shots On Target
Over 4.5 Cards
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Thursday 8pm: Benfica v Rangers
Europa League match at Estádio da Luz
TV: TNT Sports 1
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Rangers (+2)
Rangers’ main goal as they travel to Benfica for the first leg of their Europa League last 16 encounter will be to keep the tie alive for the return match at Ibrox next week. Philippe Clement’s side have every chance of doing just that.
The Gers have lost only twice under the guidance of the Belgian since he took command in October, with those losses against Celtic and Motherwell both coming by a single goal. There was nothing in Benfica’s performances against Toulouse in the previous round that suggests the Gers have anything to be particularly worried about.
The Portuguese side struggled through thanks to a couple of penalties in their home match and were left hanging on in the second leg, with only some weak finishing from the Ligue 1 club keeping Roger Schmidt’s side alive in the tie. We’ll kick off with Rangers (+2).
Both teams to score
Rangers have scored in every single match they have played under Clement to date, and while they are depleted offensively ahead of this trip, they will expect to find the target on at least one occasion.
Benfica, after all, conceded five against Porto at the weekend and are yet to keep a clean sheet at home in Europe this season. They have conceded seven goals in four matches making Both Teams to Score an attractive play.
Similarly, the Portuguese team are prolific at home and should have enough to net at least once against a Gers side that have shown signs of defensive fragility in recent games and have conceded at least twice in three of their last four European away matches.
Rafa Silva to have 1 or more shots on target
Rafa Silva is one of Benfica’s new sensations, and while he is yet to show his best form in European football, there is little doubt that the attacking midfielder is someone who will need to be closely policed by the Rangers defence.
Over the course of his last 15 matches in the league and Europe, he has hit at least one shot on target in 13. The exceptions came in the last round of the Europa League against Toulouse. At the price on offer for Silva to test Jack Butland just once, this is a very attractive bet.
Mohamed Diomande to have 1 or more shots on target
A new face in the Rangers squad for European football in 2024, Diomande has already shown his mettle in the Scottish Premiership. He is likely to start in central midfield, probably in a deeper role with Tom Lawrence being asked to fill in for the absent Todd Cantwell in a more advanced position.
Nevertheless, he has mustered shots on target when playing this position in two of three starts. When deployed in a No.10 role at the weekend, both of his efforts hit the target. Given his ability to hit the target, the price on Diomande to test the home goalkeeper at least once looks nice.
Over 4.5 cards
Referee Tobias Stieler is an official who likes to make his mark on games. As such, expect to see a flurry of yellow cards from a referee who has a tendency to take centre stage.
Stieler has shown five or more yellow cards in nine of the 16 matches he has overseen in the Bundesliga or in European football this season, with one of the only two in which he has not brandished a card being the dead rubber between PSV and Arsenal in the Champions League shortly before Christmas.
This is going to be a very competitive affair, with neither team holding back, so expect the card-happy official to be very active. I’m taking the Over 4.5 Cards option.
BENFICA V RANGERS BETTING TIPS
Rangers (+2)
Both Teams To Score
Rafa Silva To Have 1 Or More Shots On Target
Mohamed Diomande To Have 1 Or More Shots On Target
Over 4.5 Cards
- A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 11/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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