Braga star Rui Fonte has warned Rangers that ending 65 years of hurt by winning at Benfica proves they can stun Steven Gerrard's men at Ibrox this week.

And the former Arsenal star insists it will be an honour for him to come up against Gerrard in the Last 32 showdown.

Braga proved their credentials as Portugal's in-form team with a sensational win at the Estadio da Luz on Saturday, with midfielder Palhinha's first goal giving them their first league win at Benfica since 1955.

It took new manager Ruben Amorim's start to seven wins out of eight. He's now beaten Porto twice, Sporting Lisbon twice and Benfica and won the Portuguese League Cup since taking over in the middle of December.

So it was perhaps wasn't surprising that Fonte - who also had spells at Crystal Palace, Fulham and Espanyol - believes his side have nothing to fear in Glasgow.

He said: "It was a fantastic night for us because the club have not won for 65 years in the league at Benfica so we made history and showed our strength. It proves we can beat anyone.

"We know what we are going to face in Scotland. Ibrox is a historical stadium and Rangers are a very strong team. I know they went through a rough time and they are trying to make up for lost time.

"So we know what we are up against and we know it will be a tough game, especially away from home. But we will prepare to go to Glasgow and get the best result possible.

"We believe we can win anywhere. You have to believe you can and it was the same here against Benfica. We're on a very good run and there's no reason why we can't continue that in Glasgow."

And the 29-year-old winger, who has also been on the books of both Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, admits he can't wait to come up against Gerrard.

He said: "Everyone knows Steven Gerrard. He was obviously a very big player in Liverpool's history. It will be a pleasure just be on the same pitch as him because I have a huge amount of respect for him.

"I looked up to a player like Steven Gerrard. These days it's rare that you get a player staying at the same club for so long. He had some amazing offers to leave Liverpool at the peak of his career and didn't move, so he deserves respect for that.

"Look, he had an amazing career and I personally thought he was a great player. The character he showed as a player is something we will need when we go to Ibrox."

And Fonte is well aware of what Rangers can do when they are their best and with a packed Ibrox behind them.

He said: "I know a few Rangers players. I obviously know Alfredo Morelos and I knew Daniel Candeias before he left. They are a very strong team, who are up with Celtic and battling for their title. I can assure you our manager prepares very hard for games and we will know everything about Rangers by the time of the game.

"I watched Rangers against Porto. They are a strong team who are well organised. They are a typically strong British team who are physical. We know what we will face.

"The results against Porto showed how good Rangers are because Porto are one of the strongest teams in our league here and a difficult team to beat. Rangers deservedly beat them in Glasgow and for that reason alone will command our respect. We are a humble team and we know what we will face.

"When we played Wolves in the Europa League, they had a different style and different tactics to Rangers. I expect Rangers to be more physical than Wolves were. I think it will be a different game.

"Personally, as a player I enjoy going to places like Ibrox. We know we will face a passionate crowd who will support their own team. It will be a great experience for our players to experience an atmosphere like it. In Portugal, we don't get to play in many stadiums like that with atmospheres like Ibrox."