Match Previews

country flag Uefa Europa League Round Grp D (3)
Thu 05 November 2020 17:55
Referee
Jesús Gil Manzano (ESP)
Weather at KO
weather icon Possible Light Rain  16oC | Precip: 48% (0.25 mm) | Wind 4.3 m/s
Travel Info
3 hours plane
Distance
1,754 KM
Venue
No Fans

SL Benfica

Last updated: Fri 06 November 2020 10:23
In Brief

Coming from an unexpected and heavy 3-0 defeat away against Boavista. Lost the first place. Almeida out for long. Pedrinho and Todibo out. Grimaldo in the squad. Samaris ineligible.

Looking Back

An unimaginable result at the beginning, considering that Boavista had not yet won, while Benfica had won them all so far. Aguias were unrecognizable, slow and almost listless. Even Jesus changes in the second half have not had any effect.

Encarnados wasted the chance to take a 8-point advantage on their greatest rivals Porto. They now slipped in 2nd position, one point below Sporting.

Looking Ahead

Benfica will try to redeem themselves in Europa League where on Thursday they host Glasgow Rangers. Like Benfica, the Scots too have won the first two games, so this match could decide the leadership of Group D.

Defender Andre Almeida sustained the break of the knee cruciate ligaments...will miss for long.

Latest arrival Jean-Clair Todibo recovered from an Achilles tendon inflammation, but he is not fit enough to play.

Left-back Alex Grimaldo is just back training after an ankle injury and already is an option.

Midfielder Pedrinho sustained a foot fracture and is therefore ruled out. Andreas Samaris is ineligible in Europe.

Points of Interest

In UEFA competitions Benfica never met Glasgow Rangers. As for other Scottish teams, they hosted 4 times Celtic Glasgow (3 in Champions League and one in the European Cup) winning all of them, and once Hearts of Midlothian in the European Cup, again winning.

Manager Comments

Jorge Jesus: "The team had never been losing this year before and when they reached the break 2-0 down, they were emotionally charged. I tried, with the substitutions, to change the team, but they didn't change the team's game. Basically, there was a lack of defensive organization".

Rangers

Last updated: Fri 06 November 2020 10:23
In Brief

Rangers remain undefeated this season. Conceding few goals. Katic the only injury of note.

Looking Back

Rangers’ excellent form continued on Sunday as they overcame Kilmarnock 1-0 away from home to further strengthen their grip on first place in Scotland.

James Tavernier converted a penalty to seal the points in an otherwise low-key match, in which Steven Gerrard only made two substitutions.

Although performances have not been flashy lately, they have been very effective, typified by the 1-0 home win over Lech Poznan in the Europa League last week, which saw Alfredo Morelos break his goal drought.

Rangers have kept clean sheets in 15 of their 18 matches this season.

Looking Ahead

Bit-part players George Edmundson and Jordan Jones will take no part after being suspended by the club for breaching Covid-19 protocols. They face at least two weeks out.

Nikola Katic is a long-term absentee in the heart of the defence, while Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Jack were both able to start at the weekend after being doubts.

Gerrard is sure to rotate his side. Key midfielder Glen Kamara, Steven Davis and Ianis Hagi seem certain starters, while Kemar Roofe will challenge to start ahead of Morelos.

Points of Interest

Rangers have plenty of success against Portuguese sides of late. They won three and drew the other of matches against Porto and Braga last season.

Doubtful (chance of availability) Rested
  • ---
Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability)
  • ---
Rested
  • ---
Transfer in
  • Darwin Núñez (att) UD Almeria, Éverton (att) Gremio, Pedrinho (att) Corinthians, Luca Waldschmidt (att) Freiburg, Gilberto (def) Fluminense, Jan Vertonghen (def) Tottenham, Helton Leite (gk) Boavista, Diogo Gonçalves (att) Famalicão back from loan, Facundo Ferreyra (att) Espanyol back from loan, Nicolás Otamendi (def) Manchester City, Jean-Clair Todibo (def) Barcelona on loan
Transfer out
  • Jhonder Cádiz (att) Nashville SC on loan, Yony González (att) LA Galaxy on loan, Bruno Varela (gk) Vitoria Guimaraes, Andrija Zivkovic (mid) PAOK Thessaloniki, Ivan Zlobin (gk) Famalicão, David Tavares (mid) Moreirense on loan, Ljubomir Fejsa (mid) Al-Ahli, Florentino Luís (sp)(mid) Monaco on loan, Ruben Dias (k)(def) Manchester City, Carlos Vinicius Morais (r)(att) Tottenham on loan, Tomás Tavares (def) Alaves on loan, Jota (sp)(mid) Real Valladolid on loan
Transfer in
  • Darwin Núñez (att) UD Almeria, Éverton (att) Gremio, Pedrinho (att) Corinthians, Luca Waldschmidt (att) Freiburg, Gilberto (def) Fluminense, Jan Vertonghen (def) Tottenham, Helton Leite (gk) Boavista, Diogo Gonçalves (att) Famalicão back from loan, Facundo Ferreyra (att) Espanyol back from loan, Nicolás Otamendi (def) Manchester City, Jean-Clair Todibo (def) Barcelona on loan
Transfer out
  • Jhonder Cádiz (att) Nashville SC on loan, Yony González (att) LA Galaxy on loan, Bruno Varela (gk) Vitoria Guimaraes, Andrija Zivkovic (mid) PAOK Thessaloniki, Ivan Zlobin (gk) Famalicão, David Tavares (mid) Moreirense on loan, Ljubomir Fejsa (mid) Al-Ahli, Florentino Luís (sp)(mid) Monaco on loan, Ruben Dias (k)(def) Manchester City, Carlos Vinicius Morais (r)(att) Tottenham on loan, Tomás Tavares (def) Alaves on loan, Jota (sp)(mid) Real Valladolid on loan

Rangers

Last updated: Fri 06 November 2020 10:23
In Brief

Rangers remain undefeated this season. Conceding few goals. Katic the only injury of note.

Looking Back

Rangers’ excellent form continued on Sunday as they overcame Kilmarnock 1-0 away from home to further strengthen their grip on first place in Scotland.

James Tavernier converted a penalty to seal the points in an otherwise low-key match, in which Steven Gerrard only made two substitutions.

Although performances have not been flashy lately, they have been very effective, typified by the 1-0 home win over Lech Poznan in the Europa League last week, which saw Alfredo Morelos break his goal drought.

Rangers have kept clean sheets in 15 of their 18 matches this season.

Looking Ahead

Bit-part players George Edmundson and Jordan Jones will take no part after being suspended by the club for breaching Covid-19 protocols. They face at least two weeks out.

Nikola Katic is a long-term absentee in the heart of the defence, while Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Jack were both able to start at the weekend after being doubts.

Gerrard is sure to rotate his side. Key midfielder Glen Kamara, Steven Davis and Ianis Hagi seem certain starters, while Kemar Roofe will challenge to start ahead of Morelos.

Points of Interest

Rangers have plenty of success against Portuguese sides of late. They won three and drew the other of matches against Porto and Braga last season.

Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability)
  • ---
Rested
  • ---

Key

Key players
Regular players
Support players
75% - Chance of availability
Artificial Pitch
Universal Player Grid
Squad Confirmed
Played in Cup fixture
New Information

Team Strength*

Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Just Adequate
Poor
*Based on Available Players