Benfica injury concern ahead of clash v Rangers – report
Benfica could be without up to three first-team defenders ahead of their Europa League Group D clash on Thursday.
With both sides having won their opening two group stage fixtures, the clash at the Estadio da Luz could go a long way to deciding who tops the group.
However, Benfica are heading into the game with doubts over three defenders.
Jean-Clair Todibo, who arrived at club from Barcelona on loan in October, is yet to feature for the Lisbon-based side due to an achilles tendon problem and should miss out once again (via Transfermarkt).
Meanwhile, regular full-backs Andre Almeida and Alejandro Grimaldo could also miss out. Almeida suffered a cruciate ligament injury last month and has not featured since their domestic league win over Rio Ave (via Transfermarkt).
Grimaldo is struggling with an ankle issue and has missed their last two matches, with his return date currently unknown.
On the Rangers side, Steven Gerrard will be without Jordan Jones and George Edmundson after the pair were suspended by the club for breaking local lockdown rules.
Long-term absentee Nikola Katic is their only other concern, with the centre-back not expected to return until January 2021 at the earliest.
A stern test
Aside from last month’s Old Firm derby, the match on Thursday in Lisbon will be one of Gerrard’s sternest tests of the season.
With five wins from their first six Primeira Liga matches of the season, they sit second in the table (via WhoScored).
Like Rangers, they beat Lech Poznan and Standard Liege in their first two Europa League encounters and will be looking to extend their unbeaten home run in the competition on Thursday, with Jorge Jesus’s side not having suffered a defeat on their own ground in their last 23 Europa League fixtures.
The potential absence of Grimaldo and Almeida is an important one, with the full-backs providing a combined one goal and three assists from nine Primeira Liga appearances so far this season (via WhoScored).
Impressive attacking weapons, Almeida has provided 1.7 key passes per game in the league so far this term, while Grimaldo leads the side with 1.6 crosses per match (via WhoScored).
Nuno Tavares and Gilberto started in the full-back position in the club’s most recent match against Boavista, but Benfica lost the match 3-0.
In other Rangers news: ‘We cannot be afraid’ – Benfica boss issues plea ahead of Rangers Europa League tie