Rangers have been  handed £1.5m Europa League blueprint

Rangers have been handed £1.5m Europa League blueprint

The Gers are scheduled to go to Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, this week for an exciting Europa League Round of 16 match against the legendary Iberian club.

However, any pre-match anxieties may have been alleviated by a remarkable five-goal romp by Liga Portugal rivals FC Porto, who have shown Rangers how to get at Benfica.

In a weekend of shocks in Scotland, it appears that Portugal has also experienced some surprising results, with Porto’s Brazilian-t winger Galeno playing a key role in the triumph.
FC Porto defeated Benfica 5-0.

With FC Porto’s Liga Portugal title prospects dangling by a thread, anything less than a win over Benfica would have put them out of contention this season.

The Portuguese team defeated As Águias and opened up the national title competition.

Galeno, a Brazilian winger, found himself unmarked at the back post from a corner and slotted in the goal, before taking advantage of some poor defense to score a second in the six-yard box.

Ten minutes after the restart, Galeno’s countryman Wendell made it three with a deflected attempt that went through the legs of helpless Argentinian centre-back Nicolas Otamendi.

Things would only get worse for the former Manchester City defender, who was sent off after the hour mark for a second yellow card.

Brazilian forward Pepe – not the great Portuguese centre-back who also appeared in the game – then smashed home a fourth goal.

Danny Namaso, an ex-Reading attacker, scored the last goal with a header late.

Sporting Lisbon remains top of Liga Portugal, one point ahead of Benfica in second place, despite having played one fewer game.

Things would only get worse for the former Manchester City defender, who was sent off after the hour mark for a second yellow card.

Brazilian forward Pepe – not the great Portuguese centre-back who also appeared in the game – then smashed home a fourth goal.

Danny Namaso, an ex-Reading attacker, scored the last goal with a header late.

Sporting Lisbon remains top of Liga Portugal, one point ahead of Benfica in second place, despite having played one fewer game.

Rangers receive Europa League blueprint

You can be confident that Philippe Clement and his team will be monitoring Porto’s crushing victory against Benfica ahead of Rangers’ Europa League trip this week.

While Ibrox fans will have nothing but respect for the excellent Portuguese team, it is evident that there are methods to attack this defensively fragile team.

That is not to say that the club lacks talented players; Argentine winger Angel di Maria and Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo, for example, represent serious threats.

Rangers have had great success in Portugal in recent years, and if the team can focus their energy and disrupt Benfica’s rhythm, we might be in for a memorable night at the Estadio de Luz.

With passage to the Europa League Quarter Finals worth €1.8 million (£1.5 million) for participating teams, the double header is for more than just status.

Rangers will face Benfica in Portugal on Thursday (07/03) at 8PM GMT, before returning to Ibrox a week later (14/03) at 5:45PM GMT.

Rangers have publicly criticized UEFA’s decision to start early for broadcasting purposes.

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