UEFA Champions League Play-off – PSV vs Rangers – Preview

Dutch Cup winners PSV take on the most successful club in Scottish football in a crunch second leg Champions League play-off tie on Wednesday night.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side travel to the Philips Stadion following a 2-2 first leg draw at Ibrox, with the winners on the night qualifying for the Champions League group stages. Defeat will see the losers drop into the Europa League.

Head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has enjoyed a solid start to life at PSV, winning both of his opening Eredivisie games by three-goal margins against FC Emmen and Go Ahead Eagles.

The Netherlands side managed to come away from Ibrox with a respectable 2-2 draw after initially taking the lead through Ibrahim Sangare's pouncing finish.

Rangers responded in rapid fashion, levelling the scoreline just three minutes later through Antonio Colak.

PSV heads could have dropped after goalkeeper Walter Benitez’s howler gifted Rangers the lead with just 20 minutes to go, but Armando Obispo’s towering header restored parity and sees van Nistelrooy’s side enter the second leg as strong favourites.

In a boost for PSV, the Dutch FA granted the Eindhoven club a full week off from Eredivisie action to fully focus on the task at hand. Their supporters will certainly be up for the occasion:

Always having our back ❤️#RANPSV #UCL pic.twitter.com/uOjMaUPKwP

PSV are without a win in their previous three home encounters with Rangers and will be determined to improve that record and secure Champions League qualification.

The hosts could be without Carlos Vinicius, Noni Madueke, Mauro Junior, Olivier Boscagli and Yorbe Vertessen due to injuries.

Luuk de Jong, rumoured Manchester United target Cody Gakpo and Ismael Saibari are expected to lead the attack, while Toffees loanee