RANGERS were drawn against Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon in the last 32 of the Europa League. The draw took place in Nyon yesterday at
Christian Benford Jersey noon and paired the finalists of the competition in 2008 with the team they eliminated at the quarter final stage that year.Rangers supporters, like me, remember that night in Lisbon as one of our best performances in Europe in recent seasons. It wasnt quite as spectacular as the 3-0 hammering of Lyon in france, but came close.The first leg was bore 0-0 draw, but just what Walter Smith wanted I believe. We travelled to Lisbon confident of snatching an away goal.After coming close to conceding a couple of times, our defence stood strong and let the rest of the team relax and keep po se sion. Retaining the ball in European competition is so vital as it relaxes the players, staff and supporters. If you are losing the ball constantly and always clearing your lines you are just playing into the hands of the opposition.
A fantastic break-away by Steven Davis and Jean-Claude Darcheville resulted in the latter slotting home on the hour. The fans
Dion Dawkins Jersey were ecstatic, Sporting had to score two goals in half an hour to go through now.As time ticked away, the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup were drawing near. The fans sensed history was being made. As Lisbons players tired with chasing a goal to get back into the game, Steven Whittaker won the ball in the middle of the park, skipped past several defenders before calmly placing past the keeper in injury time to send his team to face Fiorentina in the last four.It was a truly remarkable
Jaquan Johnson Jersey goal and one the Portuguese, and me, never saw coming from a defender like Whittaker. Many believed he was going to thread Darcheville through but opted to go all the way himself.Panathinaikos was the last 32 opposition in 2008 of course, and after a goalle s draw at Ibrox we went to Greece and drew 1-1 to go
Tommy Sweeney Jersey through on the away goals rule. At the that stage, even the most ambitious of Bluenose would not have predicted we were good enough to go all the way to the Final, especially after two pretty below-par displays against the Greeks.So even if we progre s past Sporting Lisbon this year after poor displays, we can go back to that example to give us some comfort.So what about the Sporting team now? Well, they are much the same from 2008, with a few important tweaks. At the end of last season Sporting sold their two best players: Joao Moutinho going to Porto for 11 million and Miguel
Josh Allen T Shirts Veloso going to Genoa for 9 million. One time Rangers target, centre back Tonel, also left for Dinamo Zagreb. To compensate, new manager Paolo Sergio brought in nine new signings, one loan signing and recalled a player from loan.They entered the Europa League at the 3rd Qualifying round. Where they won 1-0 away and 2-1 at home to Nordsjaelland. In the next round, they lost 2-0 at home to Brondby, but won 3-0 away, with the important 3rd goal being scored in injury time. In the Group stages, they won Group C with 12 points. The Group included Lille, Gent and Levski Sofia. They won their 3 home games
Tommy Doyle Jersey , scoring 5 against both Gent and Levski Sofia and won away to Lille, but lost away to Gent and Levski Sofia.After 13 games in their domestic league, Sporting CP are in 3rd place and 13 points adrift of leaders FC Porto. They have been largely inconsistent and have a few propblems with the inexperience of their manager Paulo Sergio.I hope our club refuce the price of tickets for the home leg on February 17th. It will encourage more fans to go and cheer the team on to a po sible historic Europa League run. Who knows, scenes like the image above could return in Dublin.
The Wall