Rangers vs Benfica Prediction: Back the hosts on another Special European Night at Ibrox

Rangers welcome Benfica to Ibrox on Thursday evening. The Europa League Round of 16 tie is locked at 2-2 following a thriller in Lisbon. The game is scheduled to kick-off at 17:45 - so remember this isn't an evening game - and it will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 4.

Betfred’s Scottish Football expert Frank Monkhouse is here with his full match preview as he gives us his Rangers vs Benfica predictions and Best Betting Tips for the game from Govan…

Ibrox prepares to host another exciting Europa League evening as Rangers welcome Benfica for this Round of 16 second leg. Gers battled to a hard-earned draw in Lisbon last week, twice leading the game before having to settle for a four-goal share. With no away goal rule used these days, Thursday’s meeting becomes a straight shoot-out for a place in the quarter-finals.

Benfica knows they missed a golden opportunity to make home advantage count and take an aggregate lead to Glasgow. The Portuguese outfit were far from their best when hosting Rangers last Thursday but can make amends with a strong away win. Will Benfica grab victory and progress to the next round or prove another big-name scalp on Rangers’ belt?

Rangers vs Benfica Odds

Many wrote Rangers off ahead of their trip to the Estadio da Luz, with some of the club’s fans happy to concentrate on the league campaign and their quest for a domestic treble. But manager Philippe Clement told the press his team wouldn’t pick and choose the games they try to win and assured fans every trophy would get their full attention. Gers backed that up with an impressive display in Lisbon.

Having seen the Scottish Premiership leaders score twice away to Benfica, traders are now taking the home team seriously. Fancy the locals to defeat Benfica on another special European night at Ibrox? You can back Rangers for the win at 9/5, and that’s sure to be popular with fans and neutrals. Prefer Benfica’s class to shine through? You can back the visitors at 7/5 or play another draw at 5/2, available on the Betfred site and app.

Both teams to score @ 8/15

We backed both teams to score in this fixture last Thursday, and that bet was settled as a winner in the first half. Let’s shoot for more of the same as these free-scoring teams renew rivalries and go head-to-head in the cauldron that is Ibrox Stadium on Thursday evenings. The earlier kick-off time upset supporters, but Ibrox will be at capacity, and those inside the famous stadium will aim to roar their favourites to another big performance.

Rangers kept a clean sheet away to Hibs on Sunday in the Scottish Cup but have conceded three goals in their three previous outings this month. Benfica returned to winning ways in the Primeira Liga when beating Estoril at home on Sunday. They won that game with a 3-1 scoreline, but their leaky defence can expect a busier evening on Thursday. Back both teams to score, sit back, and enjoy the show.

Rangers win @ 9/5

Few followers of European football expected Rangers to win in Portugal last Thursday. Still, after seeing Clement’s patchwork midfield compete in Lisbon, we are backing Gers to finish the job in style. The atmosphere inside Ibrox on European nights is something special, and it has already surprised some famous names in this competition.

Benfica don’t have their problems to seek at the minute with the Portuguese media and even many of the club’s fans demanding change or a quick-fire improvement in results. Rangers are dealing with a growing injury crisis, but they’re ambitious and play free-flowing, attacking football at this level. Back a home win at decent odds.

Frank Monkhouse covers Scottish Football for us here at Betfred Insights. You can check out all of his work along with that of the rest of our Football Betting Tips desk on our main Football page...