Rangers-PSV Eindhoven is a match valid for the first leg of the Champions League qualifying playoffs and is played Tuesday at 9 p.m.: predictions.
Scots and Dutchmen meet face to face exactly one year later, again in the Champions League and again in the qualifying play-offs.
To prevail, on that occasion, were Rangers, who after the pyrotechnic 2-2 draw in Glasgow went on to take the qualification in the Netherlands, defeating the Philips Stadion with a goal by Antonio Colak – now at Parma, in Serie B – and detaching the pass for the group stage. Dreaming of a rematch is Psv Eindhoven, which, as in last season, seems to have something more than the Britons. In what is undoubtedly the most compelling challenge in these playoffs, it is Peter Bosz’s men – back in their homeland after stints with Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon – who are always winners in the five official matches played so far. The red-and-whites opened the season with the Johan Cruijff Schaal, the Dutch Super Cup, beating Feyenoord, the defending Eredivisie champions, 1-0. In the league they are on full points after two days thanks to their successes against Utrecht and Vitesse, while in Europe they have already passed a preliminary round: there was no history in the double confrontation with the Austrians of Sturm Graz, overwhelmed 4-1 in the first leg and 3-1 in the return.
The rematch, one year later
Michael Beale’s team also played five matches, and in the previous round they did not have an easy time against the Swiss Servette: Ibrox’s 2-1 first leg was decisive.
Tavernier and Danilo
In Swiss soil, however, Rangers did not go beyond a draw (1-1) in a very balanced challenge in which the hosts also had several goal chances. Qualification that overshadowed the unexpected defeat in the Scottish Premiership opener against Kilmarnock. The first points came on the second day, thanks to a clear home win against Livingston. At the weekend Beale and his men recorded another positive result, getting the better of Greenock Morton in the League Cup. For the match with Psv, Tavernier, Barisic and Cifuentes are back available, Davies and Yilmaz absent. On the other side, Bosz may again call up Mauro Junior, who was disqualified against Sturm Graz but is anxious about Lang’s condition.
The Prediction
The Psv as last year gives the impression of being superior to Rangers in terms of quality of the roster, but it is also true that at Ibrox the Scots transform. They will likely avoid defeat in a match that, along the lines of a year ago, could see both teams score on at least one occasion.
The likely lineups for Rangers-PSV Eindhoven
- RANGERS (4-3-3): Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Goldson, Barisic; Cifuentes, Jack, Cantwell; Sima, Danilo, Dessers.
- PSV EINDHOVEN (4-2-3-1): Benitez; Teze, Ramalho, Boscagli, Sambo; Veerman, Sangaré; Bakayoko, Til, Vertessen; de Jong.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
