It feels like déjà vu for Rangers and PSV Eindhoven this season in the Champions League as the two sides clash at the playoff stage for a second consecutive year. The Dutch side is seeking revenge for last season’s 3-2 aggregate defeat.
The two played out a spectacular 2-2 draw in Glasgow a year ago. Will we see something similar again? Bookmaker William Hill offers odds at 2.62 for over 3.5 goals in the contest.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: August 21st, 5:30 P.M. (EST)
Following the 2-2 draw in the first leg, Rangers battled out a 1-0 win in Eindhoven to get to the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2010. The team ended up losing all six games after passing the playoff round, and the players must be very eager to get another chance and show that they do belong on this stage.
The 2023-24 campaign started with a shock for Rangers as Michael Beale saw his side go 1-0 down to Kilmarnock in the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership, but a run of three wins and one draw across all competitions has followed. The team has already taken down Servette in the Champions League, with James Tavernier scoring in both legs against the Swiss side.
The Rangers captain has produced a couple of truly special seasons and looks in form straight away in this campaign as well. He will be expected to lead the charge again in the tough match-up against PSV.
The 24-time Dutch champion has a new man in charge this season in Peter Bosz, and he’s had a dream start at the club. PSV has won all five matches under Bosz, scoring 13 goals and conceding only three times. The team tore apart Sturm Graz in the previous round 7-2 and heads into Tuesday’s clash of the back off two straight 3-1 wins.
The visitors will seek further inspiration from Luuk de Jong. The veteran forward has had a superb start to the campaign by scoring four goals and delivering two assists in five outings. He’s averaged a goal involvement every 62.5 minutes, meaning it’s incredibly difficult to keep the PSV captain quiet for a whole game.
De Jong could be a massive problem for a Rangers team that has so far registered only one clean sheet in five matches. However, winning in Glasgow isn’t easy. Since the start of last season, only three teams have beaten the Gers at the Ibrox.
