Charlie Adam believes Braga can’t beat Rangers in Europa League decider
Rangers will welcome Braga to Ibrox tonight for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final looking to overturn a slender deficit.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Light Blues were beaten 1-0 in Portugal one week ago thanks to Abel Ruiz’s goal but stand every chance of turning the tie on its head with the help of the home crowd.
Dundee midfielder Charlie Adam though thinks that the Liga NOS outfit can’t beat Rangers this evening as their capitulation against the Gers two years ago will still play on their minds.
“They will need to (play better than the first leg),” Adam said on talkSPORT (Thursday 14 April) and quoted by the Football Scotland.
“I was fortunate enough to get to the Dortmund game and the last round, the atmosphere has been electric.
“Listen, Braga have got experience but it will still be in the minds of the players that were there, two goals up at Ibrox and losing that game a couple of years.
“I don’t think Braga can beat Rangers tonight. I think Rangers could win two or three-nil, with the atmosphere and the crowd and what’s going on.”
Still the favourites
Despite being a goal behind before kick-off tonight, Rangers can still be considered as favourites to advance to the semi-finals where they will play either RB Leipzig or Atalanta for a place in the final.
Braga really needed to win by two or three themselves in their own backyard if they wanted a real chance to hold onto the lead and, at the very least, take the game to the lottery of penalties.
As it is though, van Bronckhorst’s boys should have more than enough to draw level and then overpower Carlos Carvalhal’s side and book their place in the semi-finals.
The experienced heads of Connor Goldson, James Tavernier and Allan McGregor will be needed to put in the performance of their season to help inspire the younger folk among the squad to make this a night to remember.
Play like we know they can, and Braga will not be able to cope and it could be another European demolition from the Gers.
In other Rangers news, Kenny Miller has been blown away by the “scary” numbers of goals and assists this Gers ace has put up since he arrived at Ibrox.