Rangers vs Benfica: Betting Odds & Prediction

Featured image: Alamy Images

Written by: Findlay Brown

Rangers welcome Benfica to Ibrox for the second leg of their Europa League round-of-sixteen tie.

The two sides drew 2-2 in Lisbon in the first leg last week. Kick-off is set for 5:45pm UK time in Glasgow. 

Recent Form 

Rangers

The Scottish league leaders are a team in form, having won eight of their last ten games. The hosts were unbeaten in 13 games on home turf before the run came to an end with a 2-1 loss to Motherwell at the start of March. 

Their overall dominance at home is clear however, with the Scottish side averaging an expected goal (xG) tally of 2.48 per match in the league. Rangers have also registered over seven shots in target in 80% of their home fixtures so far. 

Rangers are however more vulnerable on home soil than they are in away games. They've conceded 0.73 goals per match at Ibrox so far in the Scottish Premiership, compared to 0.36 goals on the road. 

Rangers finished top of Group C, ahead of Sparta Prague, Real Betis and Aris Limassol. The Scottish side have scored ten goals in their seven European matches so far, averaging 1.43 goals per game. They've also conceded eight during those fixtures, with an average of 1.15 per match. Rangers have also kept two clean sheets in Europe this season. 

League matches at Ibrox have averaged a total of 3.13 goals so far, with both teams finding the net in 47% of fixtures at Ibrox.

Benfica 

Benfica head into the match having lost their last two away games in the league. A 5-0 bashing at Porto followed a 2-1 away defeat to city rivals Sporting Lisbon, though Benfica did return to winning ways with a 2-1 home victory over Estoril Paria last time out. 

They still sit in second in the Liga Portugal and have won 76% of their league games so far. Their 21 goals conceded in 25 games is beaten only by Porto’s 17. 

Despite the two recent losses, Benfica have still averaged 2.17 points per match in away games (W8, D2, L2). They've also scored 23 goals on the road whilst only conceding 15. 

They're exceeding their xG of 1.5 goals per away match, netting an average of 1.92 goals on their travels. Benfica have also kept five clean sheets in away games this season. Porto and Lisbon are the other two outstanding sides in the league though, and both have registered victories over Benfica this season. 

Their form in Europe also makes for slightly darker reading. In a Champions League group consisting of Inter Milan, Real Sociedad and Red Bull Salzburg, Benfica could only manage four points. Their only win did come away from home though with a 3-1 victory against Salzburg. 

A third-place finish meant they dropped into the Europa League play-offs, where they overcame Toulouse 2-1 on aggregate. The away leg saw a 0-0 draw between the two sides. 

Prediction

Although they are a much stronger team under Philipe Clement, Rangers will need to combat fatigue as they continue to play two games a week and with increasing injuries will need big performances from those on the fringes of their squad. 

Benfica have stuttered in recent weeks and despite their win at the weekend, the Portuguese side will regret not coming to Ibrox with a lead. Their away record against quality opposition should give the home side the advantage in this tie.

OddsNow's Pick: Rangers to qualify (21/20 @ Betfair)

 

 

 

Previous Next