Given how many games in Europe that Rangers have played in the last six seasons or so, we are always going to come up against and meet the odd familiar face, not just Benfica, but the referee in charge too on this occasion.
Gers boss Philippe Clement might be short of bodies but he will still be wanting to get the sort of result to take back to Ibrox that gives us a chance of progress, plenty of the squad have been here before and succeeded.
Rangers fans will be hoping for a better result and that it is third time lucky with German whistler Tobias Stieler taking charge against Benfica.
Rangers will hope it’s third time lucky against Benfica
The name might not be instantly recognisable and it is probably because, in the two games that we have had him before, we have yet to win.
Stieler is a regular in the Champions League, Europa League and at international level and when Rangers returned to Europe’s elite competition, it was the Bundesliga ref that was the man in the middle against Ajax on matchday one.
The less said about the 4-0 defeat, the better.
His first game officiating Rangers was an altogether stranger affair.
In 2021, Rangers had already been dumped out of Champions League qualification by Malmo and were rewarded with a trip to Armenia and 40 degree plus temperatures.
They also had to make the trip without either first choice goalkeeper, captain and Steven Gerrard, all missing due to Covid-19.
A slender 1-0 lead was all that Rangers took into the second leg after John Lundstram was sent off at Ibrox – a moment that took him a long time to recover from in the eyes of the fans.
Rangers still sent out a strong team and huffed and puffed, Joe Aribo hitting the woodwork on a couple of occasions and Alfredo Morelos having what can only be, fairly, described as an off-night.
Just the two 1v1 chances missed.
What made the tie a little more comfortable, was Stieler sending off James Santos das Neves shortly before half-time.
Already on a yellow card for petulence, the winger, for some reason, decided to flick a boot out at Robby McCrorie’s head, nowhere near the ball.
And off he went.
It would be nice if Stieler could do Rangers a similar favour against Benfica.
