Rangers are in Lisbon for one of the biggest games of their season to date as Europa League last 16 action commences against Benfica. The first leg at the Estadio da Luz will be a stern test for Philippe Clement’s side against a team who have lost just two of their past 24 games in all competitions. However, those two defeats came in their previous two matches against Sporting CP and Porto. So it’s either going to be a good time to play the Portuguese giants or a bad time – because their fans will be desperate for a convincing response. As for Rangers and their team news, Clement has an injury-ravaged squad to choose his starting XI from tonight. Just as the club were easing away from their injury problems, the issues have reared its ugly head again. Seven first-team players from the Europa League knockout phase squad could be unavailable for the Benfica clash. Abdallah Sima, Rabbi Matondo, Todd Cantwell, Kieran Dowell and Danilo are definitely out. While Ross McCausland is a doubt and Scott Wright is assumed to be injured too going by Clement’s press conference on Wednesdsay. Clement is in the midst of a winger crisis and it seems his only solution to the problem is to play Dujon Sterling and Fabio Silva out wide in Lisbon. Fabio Silva to occupy left wing Clement simply has no other choice if Ross McCausland is declared unavailable. The youngster is clearly trying to recover quickly enough from the horror tackle he was on the end of against Motherwell on Saturday. The boss confirmed McCausland has trained on his own but remains a doubt for tonight. Fabio Silva has been utilised off the left recently but it’s not ideal, of course. There shouldn’t be too many other changes elsewhere. Ridvan Yilmaz will be expected to make his first start in the Europa League this season – the same goes for Mohamed Diomande. Tom Lawrence should occupy the attacking midfield position behind Cyriel Dessers, who has one goal and one assist in the Europa League this season so far [FotMob]. Here is our Rangers predicted XI for the last 16 first leg encounter against Benfica as the Ibrox side look to continue their stunning record in the competition this evening.
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