Lech Poznan coach Dariusz Zuraw believes Rangers are tougher opposition than Benfica, after Alfredo Morelos scored the only goal in Thursday’s Europa League clash at Ibrox, while speaking to Gol24.
On a night in which the Colombian hotshot equalled Ally McCoist’s record with his 21st European goal for the Gers, another stellar showing at the other end of the pitch was equally important as Steven Gerrard’s side kept up the pace with Benfica on six points out of six.
In 17 games this season, the Glasgow giants have kept a clean sheet on a remarkable 14 occasions.
Marshalled brilliantly by Conor Goldson and Leon Balogun, veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor barely had to break sweat as Lech Poznan struggled to break down one of the most well-drilled defences on the continent at present.
“Despite the defeat, we played a nice match. Rangers are a solid team, especially in defence. We had several situations, we didn’t use any of them, and you have to do so in such matches,” Zuraw said at full-time.
“The Rangers team is very compact defensively. It was hard for us to work out positions to shoot or finish. In this respect it was harder to play (Rangers) than Benfica.”
Given that a Benfica side who spent over £70 million on new signings battered Lech Poznan 4-2 last week, inspired by hat-trick hero Darwin ‘the new Cavani’, Nunez, that is high praise indeed.
After Kemar Roofe’s heroics in the 2-0 triumph in Standard Liege, it was Morelos’s turn to shine on Thursday, heading home a typically predatory finish after a sublime Borna Barisic cross.
That was Morelos’s sixth goal in 14 games this season.
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