Benfica squad backed to shrug off Covid woe

Jorge Jesus has backed Benfica' s decimated squad to shrug off their coronavirus woes and take a major step towards the Europa League's last 32 with victory at Ibrox.

The Super Eagles boss, pictured, has been forced to hand five youngsters plane tickets ahead of his side's trip to Glasgow to face Rangers tonight after a Covid-19 outbreak.

Darwin Nunezwho scored the Lisbon giants' last-gasp equaliser at the Stadium of Light earlier this month - former QPR star Adel Taarabt and German midfield ace Julian Weigl have all been quarantined after testing positive.

To make matters worse, Andre Al me ida,Pe dr inho, Jean- Clair To dib o and Nu no Tavar es area ll out injured while former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi is suspended after being sent off for his last-man foul on Ryan Kent in the 3-3 draw with Steven Gerrard's men.

But Jesus has faith his depleted squad can do the business and secure the result that will leave them on the verge of the knockout rounds.

The former Flamen go coach-who himself contracted corona virus while working in Brazil back in March before returning for a second stint as Benfica boss over the summer - said: "Yes I'm always confident. Sometimes some players that we think will not be first options end up doing well when given a chance. Good things come from bad situations. "I was accustomed from early in this pandemic in Brazil. I had to work with infected players and I started to know this reality.

"It is a situation that can be very complicated for many teams .

"We worked all week thinking about the Rangers game. We have eight players out - but when the options are less, it's easier to work with what you have.”