Benfica Lisbon vs Rangers Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 02/11/2020, 22:54  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 02/11/2020 at 22:54 in Europa League Predictions

After a long run of wins, Benfica were given a reality check in the domestic Portuguese league and they will be seeking a return to winning ways when they host Rangers in Europa League Group D on Thursday. This is a top clash with the two sides jointly leading the group on six points after two opening wins and it will be exciting to see how it goes. Benfica lead on goal difference, having scored seven goals, but Rangers edge them defensively, being the only side in the group that hasn’t conceded yet. The Portuguese side heads to this clash on the back of a heavy defeat, having fallen 3-0 to Boavista in the Primeira Liga. It was the first time this season that they have failed to score in a game, and also the first in their last 15 matches. This season, they have played nine matches so far and that was the second loss for Benfica, having lost earlier in the Champions League qualifying rounds. Before the loss, Benfica had gone on a seven-match winning run. In seven of their nine matches this term, they have scored two goals or more, while they have four clean sheets in the nine matches. Playing at home, they have seven straight wins and in the four home games this season, they have three clean sheets, and scored two or more in each of them. They beat Lech Poznan 4-2 away in the first game of Group D before seeing off Standard Liege 3-0 in the second game, at home. Luis Miguel Pizzi and Darwin Nunez have been key in Benfica’s Europa League run, scoring three goals each in the opening two group games and will be among the men to watch here. The Portuguese giants are unbeaten in nine home matches in Europa League and have suffered just one loss in their last 25 home games in this competition. They have 15 wins in the last 20 home matches in Europa League and have scored three goals or more in each of the last four.

On the other hand, Rangers is one of the in-form teams in Europe at the moment. Their only loss in recent times came way back in August, when they fell 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen, but then that was in last season’s Europa League, so basically, they remain unbeaten this season. They have played 18 matches so far this season, and they have only failed to win two – drawing with Hibernian and Livingston. One key aspect about Rangers this season is their diversity in the playing unit, with goals coming from different players and they have the needed defensive solidity. However, James Tavernier has been an outstanding figure for the Glasgow side; he has scored 10 goals so far in the season and he will be a man to watch here. Back to the team, they have six straight clean sheets heading to this game and have failed to score just once in their 18 matches this season – in the draw with Livingston. On only four occasions this season have they failed to score more than a goal; in 14 matches, they have scored two or more and they have 15 clean sheets in 18 matches. Their wins in this group have not been as emphatic as Benfica’s but they have done just enough to collect the points. They beat Standard Liege 2-0 and Lech Poznan 1-0, and their ability to shut down opponents will be key in this game. Rangers started off from the qualifying stages in this competition, and going to this clash, they have five straight wins in Europa League. They have conceded just one goal in the five matches and scored 14. The Scots have avoided defeat in their last two visits in Portugal, drawing with Porto in 2019 and beating Braga in February this year. In their last seven away matches in this competition, Rangers have four wins and one loss and have failed to score in only two of their last 10 away Europa League matches.