Europa Cup Draw - Rangers v Sporting Lisbon

[Gribz 957]

Decent draw and certainly a good chance to make it through both rounds.

[Cotter 0]

Sporting again? Meh. How many green and grey hooped teams do we have to beat this year?

[pete 2,499]

Easy peasy!!!!!:robbo::robbo:

[ian1964 10,780]

SPORTING Lisbon keeper Rui Patricio last night taunted Rangers by claiming his side will be too hot to handle in their Europa League tie.

 

The 22-year-old played in both legs against Walter Smith's men the last time the sides met in the UEFA Cup two years ago.

 

But Patricio insists he's HAPPY to be facing Rangers again, despite losing to them in 2008.

 

And he boasted that Paulo Sergio's side now have the firepower needed to blast their way past Gers.

 

He said: "This is a good draw for Sporting. Rangers will be a complicated opponent but we will go through.

 

"To play the second leg at home is a big positive for us, it gives us the chance to see out the tie.

 

"Of course, we first of all need to get a good result in Glasgow.

 

"Rangers are the Scottish champions and arrive in the Europa League straight from the Champions League.

 

"That is to their credit but if you analyse the two squads Sporting are far better in attack.

 

"In Europe today, the teams who try to create chances tend to get success. Rangers are powerful in defence and they will try to destroy the game.

 

"But I've watched them and I don't see them creating many chances. As long as we play a practical game in Glasgow we will qualify."

[Super_Ally 0]

Nice use of emotive language.

 

"Taunted" the Gers, or merely done as you would expect and stated he believes his side are stronger. Shock horror. Their squad was probably stronger last time and we went through. Football is played on a green field not on paper. We will wait and see what happens.

[Totti 0]

Yeah classic spin.

 

Can't argue with anything he said. Although having the second leg in Lisbon might not be to their advantage - a clean sheet at home in the first leg was our main route to the final in 2008. We aren't anywhere as strong defensively as then though and will need to be a lot more creative to get anywhere.