Rangers to face Portuguese giants in Europa League last 16 - draw in full

Ibrox side learn knock-out stage opponents following draw in Switzerland

Rangers have drawn Benfica in the Europa League last 16. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Rangers have been drawn to face Benfica in the last 16 of the Europa League. The draw was made at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday and has paired Philippe Clement’s men with the side who lifted the Portuguese title last season.

Benfica made it through the Europa League play-off round this week after a 0-0 draw in Toulouse earned them a 2-1 aggregate victory over the French side following their first leg win at home the previous week. They dropped down from the Champions League after finishing third in their group behind Real Sociedad and Inter Milan, collecting four points from six matches to finish ahead of bottom placed Salzburg.

Rangers secured direct qualification for the Europa League knock-out stages after finishing top of their group section following a stunning 3-2 win away to Real Betis in their final match which saw them leapfrog the Spanish side and claim a first ever win on Spanish soil.

Benfica, who currently lead the Primeira Liga table on goal difference ahead of Sporting Lisbon, host the current Scottish Premiership leaders at the 65,000-capacity Estadio Da Luz in the first leg on March 7 before the second leg takes place at Ibrox Stadium on March 14.

The sides last met in the Europa League group stages in season 2020-21 with a 3-3 draw in Lisbon followed by a 2-2 draw in Glasgow – with Rangers losing two-goal advantages on both occasions.

Elsewhere, Premier League leaders Liverpool will face Sparta Prague, while Brighton face another glamour tie against Roma. The Reds will travel to the Czech capital for the first leg on March 7, before a return at Anfield a week later in a competition Liverpool have won three times in the past.

Brighton’s maiden European campaign takes them to the Italian capital after they topped Group B containing Marseille, Ajax and AEK Athens. Europa Conference League holders West Ham face German team Freiburg.

Europa League last 16 draw in full: Sparta Prague v Liverpool, Marseille v Villarreal, Roma v Brighton, Benfica v Rangers, Freiburg v West Ham, Sporting Lisbon v Atalanta, AC Milan v Slavia Prague, Qarabag v Leverkusen.