Benfica 2-2 Rangers: Visitors twice lead before settling for thrilling draw

Tom Lawrence headed Rangers in front after just seven minutes

Rangers continued their impressive Europa League campaign with a first-leg draw against Benfica after twice leading in the last-16 tie in Lisbon.

Tom Lawrence set the visitors on their way with an inch-perfect header in their first real attack after superb work down the left by Mohamed Diomande to set up the Welshman.

Rangers managed the game well from there but as half-time approached they suffered a controversial concession when John Souttar headed against his own arm in the box. After a video assistant referee intervention, Angel Di Maria coolly slotted the penalty equaliser.

Rangers responded instantly and impressively. Fabio Silva played a ball in from the left, it nicked off a defender and straight to the onrushing Dujon Sterling who slammed in his first goal for the club.

Benfica applied significant pressure after the interval, although Fabio Silva had a good opportunity well saved at the other end after he escaped the attention of two defenders on the counter.

The home side’s perseverance was eventually rewarded when a free-kick was angled into a dangerous area and, inexplicably, Rangers defender Connor Goldson nodded past Jack Butland in goal under no real pressure.

That sparked an upsurge in pressure and when John Lundstram was caught in possession the ball was worked back to Di Maria in a central area, but he fluffed his lines and tamely side-footed well past the post to Rangers’ relief.

Rafa Silva then wildly swiped at a great opportunity and the ball sailed over. Benfica continued to press but a disciplined defence held out for a result they would have welcomed before kick-off.

Player of the match – Jack Butland (Rangers)So many Rangers players delivered in an impressive collective display. Mohamed Diomande did so again, the defence, largely, stood firm but goalkeeper Butland made some crucial interventions that delivered the platform for this result. He continues to be arguably the signing of the seasonRangers show real maturity in Europe – analysis

Ultimately, a debatable penalty and an avoidable own goal cost Rangers the possibility of a staggering win.

Rangers came to Lisbon hampered by injuries, particularly in wide areas, to face a Benfica team which contains considerable quality. They had never lost a home Europa League tie in this stadium.

They still have not but Rangers will feel they could have shattered that record, despite the increasing pressure they had to endure.

The visitors were, understandably, labelled underdogs by manager Philippe Clement. They expected an early storm. One arrived but with Butland again standing strong, Rangers executed their first real attack superbly.

The presence of mind from Diomande to pick out Lawrence on the run was key and, suddenly, all the pressure was on the home side. Such moments of quality are vital at this level.

The decision to award a penalty was controversial but Rangers’ response to that blow was brilliant.

Benfica had chances and, by the end, had Rangers pinned back but it wasn’t chance after chance. They struggled to break the Ibrox side down.

In Europe, Rangers continue to demonstrate a real maturity that is delivering sensational results. They stayed strong in adversity and will take real confidence heading into the return leg at Ibrox having secured a creditable outcome.

What they said

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt: “We showed quality and confidence. We dominated the game in my opinion and had so many chances to score more goals.

“Today was not our best in efficiency. It’s a different game next week. We have the confidence to play a good game there and win.”

Rangers manager Philippe Clement: “I’m really proud of the performance, the result remains a difficult one. We were really close to making a miracle by winning here as the first team ever in the Europa League.

“I am really proud of my team. They showed character, solidarity and personality. We scored two really good goals with good football. I am someone who is demanding towards them, but I cannot ask more from them. They gave it their all.

“We need to continue like this, if they continue to show the mentality they have the last few months, it can be an amazing season.”

Match stats

All three of the meetings between Benfica and Rangers have ended in a draw (2-2, 3-3 & 2-2). It’s the most Benfica have ever faced a single opponent in European football with 100% of the results ending as a draw and for Rangers, only against Villarreal have they played more games against a single opponent with all matches ending as a draw (4).

Tom Lawrence’s opening goal (6:32) is the second-earliest Benfica have ever conceded in the Europa League and the earliest since November 2020, which was also the last time Benfica had conceded to Rangers in the competition, with Scott Arfield also netting in the seventh minute on that occasion (06:24).

Benfica have now conceded in their last nine home matches in major European competition, their longest ever run without a home clean sheet. They have conceded 16 goals across those nine games, an average of 1.8 goals conceded per match.

Benfica have never lost a home match in the Europa League (W21 D7), their 28 games in the competition since the rebrand in 2009/10 is the most any side has played without suffering a defeat.

Rangers’ Conor Goldson has now scored three own goals in the Europa League, the most of any player in the competition’s history (since the rebrand in 2009/10).

Rangers have won just one of their last six away matches in the Europa League knockout stages (D2 L3), conceding 2+ goals in three of their last five.

What’s next?

No respite for Rangers. Their challenge on three fronts takes them to Easter Road on Sunday to face Hibernian (17:30 GMT) in the Scottish Cup quarter-final, before the second leg against Benfica next Thursday (17:45).

Line-upsBenfica

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Trubin

6Bah4António Silva30Otamendi8Aursnes

87Gonçalves Neves61Morris Luís

7Neres Campos27Fernandes Ferreira da Silva11Di María

9Mendonça Cabral

1Trubin

6BahBooked at 72minsSubstituted forFernándezat 84’minutes

4António Silva

30Otamendi

8Aursnes

87Gonçalves Neves

61Morris Luís

7Neres CamposSubstituted forAntunes Gouveiaat 84’minutes

27Fernandes Ferreira da Silva

11Di MaríaBooked at 34mins

9Mendonça CabralSubstituted forSantos Almeidaat 65’minutes

Substitutes

3Fernández

5Rodrigues da Silva

10Kökçü

19Tengstedt

20João Mário

24Jumpe Soares

32Rollheiser

36Santos Almeida

44Lemos Araújo

47Antunes Gouveia

75Nogueira Gomes

82Spencer Marques

Rangers

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Butland

2Tavernier6Goldson5Souttar3Yilmaz

42Diomande4Lundstram

21Sterling11Lawrence7Fábio Silva

9Dessers

1ButlandBooked at 45mins

2Tavernier

6Goldson

5Souttar

3YilmazBooked at 67mins

42DiomandeSubstituted forRaskinat 84’minutes

4Lundstram

21SterlingBooked at 27minsSubstituted forMcKinnonat 77’minutes

11LawrenceSubstituted forJackat 77’minutes

7Fábio SilvaSubstituted forMcCauslandat 90+1’minutes

9DessersSubstituted forRoofeat 76’minutes

Substitutes

8Jack

25Roofe

26Davies

28McCrorie

31Barisic

32Wright

38King

43Raskin

45McCausland

46Yfeko

47Fraser

93McKinnon

Referee:Tobias Stieler

Attendance:48,759

Live Text

Match ends, Benfica 2, Rangers 2.

Second Half ends, Benfica 2, Rangers 2.

Foul by Ángel Di María (Benfica).

John Souttar (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Rangers. Ross McCausland replaces Fábio Silva.

Attempt missed. Rafa (Benfica) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nicolás Otamendi with a headed pass.

Corner, Benfica. Conceded by Ridvan Yilmaz.

João Neves (Benfica) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Nicolas Raskin (Rangers).

António Silva (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Kemar Roofe (Rangers).

Substitution, Benfica. Tiago Gouveia replaces David Neres.

Substitution, Benfica. Álvaro Fernández replaces Alexander Bah.

Substitution, Rangers. Nicolas Raskin replaces Mohamed Diomande.

Attempt missed. Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ángel Di María with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Benfica. Conceded by Jack Butland.

Corner, Benfica. Conceded by John Lundstram.

Corner, Benfica. Conceded by John Lundstram.

Attempt blocked. Ángel Di María (Benfica) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rafa.

Substitution, Rangers. Ryan Jack replaces Tom Lawrence.

Player of the match

ButlandJack Butland

Benfica

Squad number1Player nameTrubin

Squad number87Player nameJoão Neves

Squad number7Player nameDavid Neres

Squad number11Player nameDi María

Squad number61Player nameFlorentino

Squad number27Player nameRafa

Squad number30Player nameOtamendi

Squad number6Player nameBah

Squad number8Player nameAursnes

Squad number9Player nameArthur Cabral

Squad number4Player nameAntónio Silva

Squad number36Player nameMarcos Leonardo

Squad number3Player nameFernández

Squad number47Player nameTiago Gouveia

Rangers

Squad number1Player nameButland

Squad number7Player nameFábio Silva

Squad number21Player nameSterling

Squad number11Player nameLawrence

Squad number3Player nameYilmaz

Squad number42Player nameDiomande

Squad number2Player nameTavernier

Squad number5Player nameSouttar

Squad number4Player nameLundstram

Squad number25Player nameRoofe

Squad number93Player nameMcKinnon

Squad number43Player nameRaskin

Squad number8Player nameJack

Squad number6Player nameGoldson

Squad number9Player nameDessers

Squad number45Player nameMcCausland