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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Steven Mair

Braga frontman reacts to Rangers draw as Monaco slayer Abel Ruiz insists he's out to 'make history'

Braga star Abel Ruiz could only watch as Rangers wiped out the Primeira Liga side's lead at Ibrox two years ago.

And after two successful years in between, including lifting last season's Taca de Portugal in the final against Benfica, he feels ready for another shot at silencing Ibrox.

Ruiz was on the scoresheet when Braga went 2-0 up in Govan in 2020 but having conceded Ianis Hagi's first strike in Light Blue to make it 2-1 he was brought off.

Seven minutes later the Romanian's famous deflected free-kick sent the place wild after Joe Aribo had already levelled and Ryan Kent sealed progress in Portugal the following week.

Ruiz told the Braga website he knows what to expect this time, after two goals over the two legs against Monaco in the last 16 got them this far.

Abel Ruiz scored at Ibrox two years ago (REUTERS)

He said: "It's something historic because it's the third time SC Braga have been in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

"We are happy to help SC Braga, both me individually and the whole team. We are a family, a very united group and that makes the difference on the pitch.

"I try to do my job, as a striker I try to score goals and help the team that way.

"At the beginning of the season I didn't have the opportunity to score many goals, but now I think I am in a good phase and I will try to continue helping the team. A striker has to score goals, that's what the team often needs.

Ruiz was clinical against Monaco (REUTERS)

"When I arrived at SC Braga two years ago we had the knockout round against Rangers FC, and we will have to be effective and defend very well.

"In their stadium they are an offensive team, and we will have to defend well to score goals. Just like against AS Monaco, if we do what we did in this qualifier, we will certainly be happy."

Spain cap Ruiz insists he's better and wiser for the two years that have followed having joined from Barcelona in January 2020.

"I'm here to try to make history for SC Braga," he added. "I think I've had two-and-a-half good years, we won the Taca de Portugal last season which was a historical achievement.

"Now to be present in the quarter-finals of the Europa League is also historic and I hope we can reach the semi-finals and continue to make history here at SC Braga.

"I'm a more experienced player now, I've experienced many things here, many games and I've gained that experience. I've had very good moments and very bad moments too, but in the end a player has to go through that and I'm very happy for my path here."

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