Rangers: Supercomputer predicts likelihood of Europa League title ahead of clash v Benfica
Rangers are the second-least likely team to win the Europa League this season, according to Opta’s supercomputer.
The sports analytics company tweeted a graphic on Thursday (7 March), showing that the Gers have just a 0.6 per cent chance of winning the competition this year, with favourites Liverpool estimated to have a 29.9 per cent likelihood of European glory come May.
The Light Blues head to the Portuguese capital on Thursday for their last-16 tie against Benfica, who are predicted to have a 7.3 per cent chance of lifting the trophy this season.
Rangers not fancied to go all the way in Europa League
Those figures are certainly not what anyone associated with Rangers will want to see heading into their game against Benfica.
But the important thing is that it is only a prediction and anything could happen, just like it did two years ago when the Gers went all the way to the final of the Europa League.
It’s no real surprise to see Liverpool top the list after the season they’ve had in the Premier League, while Benfica being fourth shows the tricky task Philippe Clement’s side have in front of them.
It will be difficult to come away from Lisbon with a positive result after the Primeira Liga champions have never lost a Europa League game at The Estadio da Luz.
But records are there to be broken and Clement will be driving that message home to his players as they look to put themselves in a good position ahead of the return fixture at Ibrox on 14 March.
In other Rangers news, a journalist has mooted a potential Ibrox exit as the Gers look to kickstart their player-trading model.
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