Rangers ready to face Braga in the Europa League
BRAGA, PORTUGAL - FEBRUARY 26: Ryan Kent of Rangers FC celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Sporting Braga and Rangers FC at Estadio Municipal de Braga on February 26, 2020 in Braga, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
While not the most breathtaking draw, Rangers have been given recent fallen foes Braga once again, this time two stages later in the quarters, as the reward for overcoming Serbian opponents Red Star.
We at Ibrox Noise were pining for West Ham, but that would now only happen in a possible final, with the route to Sevilla being Braga, then Atalanta or Leipzig, before the showpiece itself.
It’s a negotiable draw, and while Braga will be no pushovers, they’re passable, but as we did re: Red Star and Borussia, we’re show respect but no fear.
Fourth in their league behind the traditional Sporting, Benfica and Porto combo which has more or less monopolised Portuguese football from the beginning, Braga are a solid team and the best of the rest. Their star man Ricardo Horta is the one to watch, albeit he’s not quite as prolific in the UEL as he is domestically; but no one has scored more at home than Braga in this tournament with a whopping 12. Rangers are fourth with 9.
They’re probably stronger now than they were in 2020, and a lot of fans are underestimating them as the ‘easiest’ draw, but at this stage, a side has to be pretty good and Braga are decent.
They’re also number one for shots per game, but this comes at a cost and they’re not that interested in defending, with a low level of interceptions and tackles.
It could be a very open match between two fairly evenly balanced sides.
Game on!