Rangers’ Europa League campaign came to an end with a heartbreaking defeat to Benfica. The match at Ibrox was filled with excitement and anticipation, but it was Rafa Silva’s breakaway goal that sealed the victory for the Portuguese side.
The atmosphere at Ibrox was electric before kick-off, with Rangers fans hoping for another Europa League quarter-final appearance. The match itself was a captivating spectacle, with both teams showing their quality and evenly matching each other for most of the game.
Benfica had the first real opportunity of the game when Rafa Silva broke away from a Rangers corner. This would prove to be a theme throughout the match, as Rangers were repeatedly caught out on the counterattack. Silva’s low cross went begging, narrowly evading Marcos Leonardo.
As the game progressed, Rangers began to control the ball better and utilize their home advantage. However, they were nearly caught again when David Neres cut back and Leonardo couldn’t direct his header on goal. It seemed that Rangers were not learning from their mistakes.
John Lundstram had a golden opportunity to score for Rangers but appeared to change his mind at the vital moment. The chance went begging, much to the relief of the home crowd. Rangers struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Cyriel Dessers and James Tavernier both coming close but failing to convert.
It was another Rangers corner that proved to be their downfall. Rafa Silva fed Fredrik Aursnes, who played it to substitute Casper Tengstedt. Tengstedt had to score, but shot straight at Jack Butland. However, Silva was there to capitalize on the rebound and score the decisive goal, albeit by the narrowest of offside margins.
From then on, Benfica managed to limit Rangers’ attacking threat while coming close to adding to their lead. The Scottish side failed to muster a real fightback and ultimately fell short.
Despite the disappointment of being eliminated from European competition, Rangers can take pride in their impressive Europa League campaign. They showed real quality against top sides and received applause from the fans at the end of the match. Now, their focus turns back to domestic silverware, with a strong position in the Scottish Premiership.
In the post-match interviews, Rangers manager Philippe Clement expressed his pride in his players’ performance. He felt that they played a better game on the ball than they did in Lisbon but acknowledged that they didn’t take their chances when they had them.
Overall, Benfica’s quality proved to be the difference in the tie. Rangers matched them for most of the game but couldn’t find a response after conceding the decisive goal.
Looking ahead, Rangers will face Dundee in their final Scottish Premiership fixture before the international break. They will be eager to bounce back from their European disappointment and continue their pursuit of domestic success.
In terms of statistics, Ángel di Maria was instrumental for Benfica, either scoring or assisting in their last four Europa League goals. Additionally, Benfica became the first Portuguese team to beat Rangers at Ibrox in European competition.
Rangers, on the other hand, suffered back-to-back defeats at Ibrox for the first time since March 2020. They had previously gone unbeaten at home against Portuguese opposition, winning eight and drawing three.
Rafa Silva’s goal was his third away goal in his last four European away matches, matching his previous 27 away games in Europe. It was also Benfica’s first away win in the knockout stages of the Europa League since February 2019.
In conclusion, Rangers’ European journey has come to an end with a defeat to Benfica. It was a thrilling match filled with excitement and disappointment. While Rangers can be proud of their performance in the Europa League, they will now shift their focus back to domestic competition as they look to add to their League Cup success.