PSV v Rangers predictions: Gers set for heartbreak in Eindhoven

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for PSV v Rangers in the Champions League playoffs on Wednesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

PSV
2pts 3-4 general

Team news

PSV
Carlos Vinicius, Noni Madueke, Mauro Junior, Olivier Boscagli and Yorbe Vertessen are all doubts for the hosts. Cody Gakpo is expected to start despite reported interest from Manchester United.

Rangers
The visitors are set to be without Kemar Roofe, Filip Helander and Ianis Hagi. Alfredo Morelos has been left out of the squad due to concerns over fitness levels and his attitude.

Match preview

Not since the 2010-11 season have Rangers featured in the group stage of the Champions League and it could still be some time before they dine at Europe's top table again.

The Gers are one win away from qualifying for the continent's elite club competition with their playoff tie against PSV Eindhoven poised at 2-2 following the first leg at Ibrox.

But an energised crowd played its part in that draw for the Scottish Premiership club, whose second goal was the result of a blunder from PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez.

At the Philips Stadion, Rangers will not have their 12th man behind them and they could struggle to contain a PSV side who have made an electrifying start to the season.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given they are now managed by one of Dutch football's all-time most prolific strikers in Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Eindhoven club play with immense energy in the final third.

They began their season with a 5-3 win over Ajax in the Dutch Super Cup before recording 4-1 and 5-2 wins over Emmen and Go Ahead Eagles in their opening pair of Eredivisie fixtures.

Their two-legged qualifying win over Ligue 1 side Monaco, meanwhile, showed they are no flat-track bullies and they will be looking to take the game to Rangers, who suffered a setback in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men were twice pegged back in a 2-2 draw with Hibernian last time out in the league and a frustrating afternoon was made worse by the fact John Lundstram and Alfredo Morelos were sent off.

PSV were given the week off by the Eredivisie to prepare for this second leg and look a well-drilled unit.

Rangers reached the final of last season's Europa League but they were largely reliant on results at Ibrox in that run, having lost four of their seven away fixtures in the competition.

They lost on the road to Sparta Prague, Red Star Belgrade, Braga and Leipzig and could also be out of their depth in Eindhoven.

They managed to overturn a 2-0 deficit in their last Champions League qualifying tie against Union Saint-Gilloise but the second leg was on home soil and PSV are a cut above the Belgian Pro League outfit.

Back the Dutch to win this one in 90 minutes and book their place in this season's Champions League draw.

Key stat

Rangers won only one of their seven away matches in last season's Europa League.

Inside info

PSV

Penalty taker Cody Gakpo
Assist ace Xavi Simons / Cody Gakpo
Set-piece aerial threat Armando Obispo
Card magnet Ibrahim Sangare

Rangers

Penalty taker James Tavernier
Assist ace Tom Lawrence
Set-piece aerial threat Connor Goldson
Card magnet Connor Goldson

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