RANGERS v BENFICA BET BUILDER TIPS
Rangers to qualify
Both teams to score
Tom Lawrence to have 1 or more shots on target
Nicolas Otamendi to have 2 or more shots
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.
Thursday March 14 at 5:45pm: Rangers v Benfica
Europa League match at Ibrox Stadium
TV: TNT Sports 4
For expert insight on the Premier League, SPFL, EFL and major European leagues, check out the coverage on the football tips section of Andy’s website. While bet builder bettors can feast their eyes on the world class resource that is Andy’s Opta-powered Bet Builder stats tool.
Rangers to qualify
Rangers will feel they are unfortunate to be coming into the second leg of their Europa League last 16 encounter against Benfica without an advantage. Philippe Clement’s side twice led in Portugal and were only pegged back due to a soft penalty and an own goal. The Gers, meanwhile, have lost only one of their 14 matches in 2024 and have the type of European big-game experience that should see them thrive on this stage, upon which they will be well backed by a raucous home support.
Benfica, meanwhile, have been rather less impressive. Away from home, they have failed to win any of their last four matches and head coach Roger Schmidt is under pressure. A 3-1 win against Estoril Praia at the weekend was their first in three games. In the previous round against Toulouse, they were battered away from home and lucky to get a 0-0 draw that saw them progress. Rangers have every chance of pulling off a major upset here.
Both teams to score
Rangers have the enviable record of having found the target in every match they have played under Clement to date, and against a defence that looked vulnerable in the first leg, they will expect to extend that record. Benfica have not been in any sort of form defensively. The Portuguese side have conceded 10 goals in their last four matches and even keeping a clean sheet in Toulouse – the only one they have managed in Europe this season – they gave up an xG of 2.0. The visitors tend to find goals easy to come by, though. In 12 of their last 14, they have netted at least two.
Tom Lawrence to have 1 or more shots on target
Rangers are depleted offensively and there will be an expectation on Lawrence to carry the attack. The signs are the underrated Welshman is ready to do just that. With Todd Cantwell probably out, he looks good value to work the visiting keeper at least once. Given he has managed two shots on target in three of his last five starts, the odds for him to hit multiple shots on target here look generous, too.
Nicolas Otamendi to have 2 or more shots
Veteran centre back Nicolas Otamendi has offered a surprisingly frequent scoring threat for Benfica in Europe. Indeed, he has had three shots in two of Benfica’s three Europa League matches to date and had multiple efforts in two of their six Champions League games. The odds of this happening again seem much too big, especially if Benfica are forced to chase the game at any point. He will be a big set-piece threat. Has only been substituted off twice this season and did not play at the weekend, so is likely to have the full match to try his luck on a couple of occasions.
Over 4.5 cards
Referee Ivan Kruzliak loves to be the centre of attention, so expect fireworks from the officials. There’s generally something controversial happening when he’s in charge, having sent off Casemiro at Old Trafford and, infamously in the East End of Glasgow, Daizen Maeda against Atletico Madrid both this season. Kruzliak has also given four penalties in six European matches. Crucially, though, he has shown a total of 23 cards in that time. In a fiery atmosphere, expect a flurry of cautions, especially as five came in the first leg.
RANGERS v BENFICA BET BUILDER TIPS
Rangers to qualify
Both teams to score
Tom Lawrence to have 1 or more shots on target
Nicolas Otamendi to have 2 or more shots
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.
READ MORE
- Shoot on over to Paddy Power News for the best Football Betting Tips & News
- Premier League Sack Race: Which Manager is Next to get the Boot in 2023/24?
- Introducing Paddy’s Bet Builder All Stars! Sign up now to bag a free bet & win prizes
- Paddy’s Hall of Fame: 8-fold footie acca nets a mammoth £17k off £5 stake for Paddy Power punter
- Premier League Title Race: Odds, fixtures and table as Liverpool lead the pack
- Introducing Paddy Power’s Super Sub – where your bet rolls over if your selection goes off!
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
