Pedro Mendes delivers verdict on Rangers v ‘flying’ Braga
Pedro Mendes has claimed that Rangers will face an uphill battle when they face SC Braga in the Europa League on Thursday evening.
The former Ibrox midfielder has outlined just how good the Portuguese side’s form is at the moment, and believes that Steven Gerrard’s men will have to lift the level of their own performance after some disappointing results of late.
The Gers now sit 10 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race after having gone into the winter break with that gap at just two points.
Speaking to the Herald, Mendes said: “To be fair, it is not the best time for Rangers to play against Braga because Braga are flying. Rangers are not at their best.
“I saw Rangers against Porto and I was really positive about the way they played, the way they approached the game, home and away.
“Rangers were a very confident team, taking passes, keeping possession and taking shots. Even in the Estadio do Dragao, it was a fantastic performance in the second half.
“At Ibrox against Porto again [it was a] fantastic performance in the second half and then a fantastic win against Celtic and then suddenly, and I can’t see any reason, the level dropped.
“It’s one thing looking at league games and another thing in Europa League and Champions League games.
“It’s a different atmosphere, it’s a different environment, different players, everything is different so, you know, let’s see if Rangers come up with a different approach to the game than we have seen for the last three or four games in the league.”
How well are Braga playing at the moment?
Better than Rangers would like them to be, that’s for sure.
The Portuguese club have not lost a match since December 18th, and they haven’t lost a league game since three days prior to that.
In the spell since, they have registered a win over Benfica, beaten Sporting Lisbon twice, beaten FC Porto twice, including once in a cup final, put seven past Belenenses, and have risen to third in the Primeira Liga table.
In short, they are on fire, and the Gers, if we’re being honest, are anything but.
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