Rangers vs PSV Eindhoven Match Analysis and Prediction

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Another huge European encounter takes place at the Ibrox on Tuesday, as Rangers take on PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying playoff round.

The Gers saw off Royale Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium to keep their continental dreams alive, while PSV Eindhoven sent Monaco packing in the previous round.

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s side have not participated in the group stage of the Champions League since the 2010-22 season, but the are now the closest that they have been since to ending that barren run after a few unsuccessful attempts in the Europa League.

Beating Eintracht Frankfurt in the final of Europe’s second-tier competition would have guaranteed them a spot in pot one for the group-stage draw, but Rangers have been forced to do it the hard way, and they sure did against Union SG in round three.

Rangers were under pressure to deliver at Ibrox after a 2-0 first-leg defeat away from home, but goals from James Tavernier, Malik Tillman and Antonio Colak turned the tie around for Rangers, who carried momentum into their domestic match against St Johnstone.

Meanwhile, PSV produced a performance that would have pleased both the striker and manager in Ruud van Nistelrooy when Monaco came to town for their second leg of their Champions League third-round qualifying tie after a 1-1 first-leg draw.

An intense battle at the Philips Stadion eventually went to extra time through Erick Guitierrez’s 89th-minute header to level the score 2-2, and in the 109th minute of the game, Luuk de Jong score his first goal back at PSV to send his side through 4-3 on aggregate.

Attacking prowess was also on the menu in their most recent Eredivisie encounter, which ended in a 5-2 victory over Go Ahead Eagles, with Xavi Simons scoring a brace against their 10-man opponents.

Ranger vs PSV Eindhoven head to head

The two teams have previously met on just two occasions in the Europa League, where PSV Eindhoven have claimed one victory, scoring a single goal in the process, while they have drawn once. They now meet for the first time in the first leg of their Champions League playoff round tie.

PSV 0-0 Rangers 10/03/11

Rangers 0-1 PSV 17/03/11

Rangers latest home form

Rangers have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have won each of their three most recent matches. They managed to defeat St Johnstone 4-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 13 goals and conceded three.

Rangers 3-1 West Ham United 19/07/22

Rangers 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur 23/07/22

Rangers 2-0 Kilmarnock 06/08/22

Rangers 3-0 Union Saint-Gilloise 09/08/22

Rangers 4-0 St Johnstone 13/08/22

Rangers latest away form

Rangers have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just three of their seven most recent matches. They lost 2-0 to Union Saint-Gilloise in their last away game in the Champions League. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded six.

Hearts 1-3 Rangers 14/05/22

Eintracht Frankfurt (P)1-1 Rangers 18/05/22

Blackpool 1-2 Rangers 16/07/22

Livingston 1-2 Rangers 30/07/22

Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 Rangers 02/08/22

PSV Eindhoven latest home form

PSV Eindhoven have recently been on a good run of form at home, having won each of their four most recent matches. They defeated Monaco 3-2 after extra time in their last home game in the Champions league. In their last five matches, they have scored 15 goals and conceded six.

PSV 1-2 Villarreal 16/07/22

PSV 5-0 Eindhoven 19/07/22

PSV 2-1 Real Betis 23/07/22

PSV 4-1 Emmen 06/08/22

PSV (E)3-2 Monaco 09/08/22

PSV Eindhoven latest away form

PSV Eindhoven have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They defeated Go Ahead Eagles 5-2 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 13 goals and conceded 11.

PEC Zwolle 1-2 PSV 15/05/22

Arminia Bielefeld 4-0 PSV 09/07/22

Ajax 3-5 PSV 30/07/22

Monaco 1-1 PSV 02/08/22

Go Ahead Eagles 2-5 PSV 13/08/22

Rangers news

Ryan Kent was absent from the squad against St Johnstone at the weekend, as was defender James Sands, who started in the second-leg victory over Union SG.

Ianis Hagi, Filip Helander and Kemar Roofe are also absent for the hosts, who could decide to bring Scott Arfield and Tom Lawrence back into the starting lineup.

PSV Eindhoven news

PSV Eindhoven’s Carlos Vinicius, Noni Madueke and Yorbe Vertessen continue their recoveries, while defenders Olivier Boscagli and Mauro Junior are also set to miss out.

Richard Ledezma should cede his place in the middle to Joey Veerman, while Philipp Max ought to return at left-back in place of Fredrik Oppegard.

Prediction and Odds

Rangers squad have held their own aganst plenty of tough continental opponents at Ibrox in recent months and head into the first leg with a golden touch in front of goal.

Their defensive resilience should not count for much against a PSV side in extremely prolific form themselves, and we expect a draw.

Odds: 1 2.20 X 2.05 2 2.28