Rangers vs Sporting Lisbon Europa Cup Match | 24 February 2011
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Sporting de Lisboa vs Rangers
Europa League Preview: Rangers vs Sporting Lisbon
Rangers welcome back Sporting Lisbon for another European tie for the second time in three years with both sides aiming to meet either Lille or PSV in the Last 16 of the UEFA Europa League.
History boasts well for the Scottish Champions with Rangers going through in other two ties between the sides in European competition. Rangers beat Sporting on the road to Barcelona in 1972 and beat Sporting in 2008 on the road to Manchester - is this the first step for Rangers on the road to Dublin?
Rangers will be without Nikica Jelavic as the Croatian international featured in the Europa League for Rapid Vienna before his move to Ibrox. Jelavic's absence could pave the way for Kyle Lafferty or David Healy to start in attack but Steven Naismith is doubtful for the first leg tomorrow night. It remains to be seen whether Smith opts for a 5-4-1, 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 in tomorrow's match. Smith hinted at a more positive approach and said: "How we line up will depend on the circumstances. I don't think we would have varied our system in the Champions League because we started well and continued with it.
"But I think we'll have to have a variation of that for the games we play against Sporting. If we look at them at the present moment, they've been a bit similar to ourselves."
To get the lowdown on Rangers' European opponents, there was no better man than Ben Shave, co-editor of the hugely successful In Bed With Maradona site and editor of his own Cahiers Du Sport blog.
How have Sporting been doing in the Portuguese league until now?
"Sporting are 3rd in the Liga after nineteen rounds, behind Porto and Benfica. That might not sound especially bad, but given that they are twenty-three points back from Porto, and twelve behind Benfica, they are way off title-challenging pace, and have been for some time. Sporting's main problem this season has been consistency: they are capable of some excellent attacking football, but all too often have contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The club is going through a period of chronic unrest, something which has undoubtedly affected both players and coaching staff. The elections in late March should provide some clarity about the future, but for now things remain up in the air."
1 comment:
as graeme swailes,paul cassidy,craig cameron,marc swailes and ian given were at the match mon the gers !!!!!!!!!!!
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