Rangers Edge Close To Historic Europa League Triumph Against Benfica

In a gripping Europa League last-16 tie that ended in a 2-2 draw in Lisbon, Rangers' manager Philippe Clement reflected on what he described as a near-miraculous performance against Benfica. The match saw Rangers taking an early lead with Tom Lawrence heading in the first goal at the seventh minute, only for Benfica to equalize through a penalty by Angel Di Maria following a VAR decision. Dujon Sterling briefly put Rangers ahead again before an own goal by Connor Goldson leveled the scores.

Clement highlighted the significant budget disparity between the two clubs, suggesting that a victory for Rangers would have been an unprecedented achievement in the Europa League. Despite the draw, he expressed immense pride in his team's display of character and solidarity, particularly praising the efforts of Fabio Silva and Dujon Sterling, who stepped up in the absence of key offensive players.

Looking ahead to the second leg of the tie at Ibrox, Clement acknowledged the advantage of playing at home but remained cautious about Benfica's quality. He emphasized the importance of fan support and realistic expectations given the financial differences between the clubs. A win against Benfica would be considered a significant accomplishment for Rangers, according to Clement.

The Belgian manager also voiced his concerns over the current handball rules in football, labeling the penalty decision against his team as "very harsh." He criticized the rules for being too stringent on unintentional handballs, suggesting that such decisions are negatively impacting the game by determining match outcomes.

As Rangers prepare for the return leg in Govan, Clement's call for continued determination and support from fans underscores the belief in his team's ability to compete at a high level despite financial and regulatory challenges. The tie remains finely poised, with both teams having everything to play for in the quest to advance to the next round of the Europa League.