Rangers’ Euro rivals Benfica stopped the rot as a 1-0 win over Paredes in the Taça de Portugal ended a run of three games without a win.
The Portuguese giants travel to Ibrox on Thursday night as Europa League Group D’s leaders go head to head in what promises to be an enthralling match in Glasgow.
Jorge Jesus rested an entire team for the match with the Portuguese second division club and the Lisbon side was unconvincing as they eked out a 1-0 win against their lowly competitors.
The result comes after Benfica were humbled 3-0 by Boavista in the Primeira Liga before going on to rescue a late point at the Estadio de Luz against Rangers in a captivating 3-3 draw.
Benfica would then fall to a 3-2 defeat to Braga just before the international break and will be glad to have gotten back to winning ways after a poor spell of form.
Rangers are preparing to welcome the legendary club to Ibrox on Thursday and will take heart from the team’s performance away in Portugal.
Following the 4-0 win against Aberdeen, Rangers are now 21 games unbeaten and will be hoping to extend that run against Benfica this week.
There is an added incentive for this one in that should either side take all three points they will have a considerable advantage in the group heading into the final two games.
Rangers have also been boosted by the new that Benfica face having up to six players out with £21m Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez amongst them.
