UEFA Europa League 2020/2021: Rangers vs Benfica – tactical analysis

The UEFA Europa League this season includes several big names, with Portuguese giants Benfica just one of them. This game saw them face a Rangers side in good form in Glasgow, in what looked on paper to be a really interesting game between the top two teams in the group. This tactical analysis will look at the tactics both sides used in the game, with Rangers controlling the first half, and Benfica coming back in the second half to earn a 2-2 draw and another point in the Group D table.

Lineups

Rangers made just two changes from the side that beat Aberdeen 4-0 at the weekend, with Ryan Jack and Joe Aribo left out, and Finland midfielder Glen Kamara and Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis coming in to replace them. The back four was left unchanged, with former Brighton and Hove Albion defenders Leon Balogun and Connor Goldson again partnered together in the middle. Colombia striker Alfredo Morelos was flanked by former Liverpool winger Ryan Kent and former Leeds United striker Kemar Roofe at the other end.

Benfica, meanwhile, started with several key players in their team. Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen partnered Jardel at centre-back, whilst Switzerland striker Haris Seferović was partnered upfront by Everton Soares and Luca Waldschmidt. Their bench included winger Diogo Goncalves, who previously spent the 2018-2019 season on loan at Nottingham Forest, as well as Greece goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.