PSV v Rangers

PSV vs Rangers Preview

PSV and Rangers shared an entertaining 2-2 draw in last week's 1st leg of this Champions League play-off tie at Ibrox but the Dutch side now return to their Philips Stadion for this 2nd leg where the hosts will be looking to see off the Scots' challenge and progress through to the group stage of this season's competition.

Although they failed to win in Glasgow last week, that 2-2 draw nevertheless further extended PSV's unbeaten run in all competitions to an impressive nine games overall which includes collecting no fewer than eight wins in the process along with inflicting a crushing 7-2 win on aggregate against Austrian outfit, Sturm Graz, in the previous qualifying round of the Champions League.

Interestingly, six of PSV's last eight games have resulted in Over 2.5 goals as well, and as the Dutch hosts have won 17 out of their last 20 games on home soil at their Philips Stadion it would be reasonable to expect PSV to run out winners plus Over 2.5 goals in this upcoming clash.

Goals should certainly feature in this return leg on Wednesday night as 14 of these last 20 home games have also produced three goals or more.

Rangers extended their unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions following their 2-0 win away from home at Ross County in the Scottish Premiership on the weekend and having recorded a 3-2 win on aggregate against Swiss club, Servette, in the previous qualifying round of the Champions League as well, ‘Gers may well fancy an upset at the Philips Stadion on Wednesday night.

On the domestic front, Rangers have bounced back from their opening day 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock with victories over Livingston 4-0 in the Premiership and a 2-1 win against Greenock Morton in the Scottish League Cup, while four of Rangers' last six games have also resulted in Over 2.5 goals as well.

Results away from home have also been reasonable as Rangers have lost just three of their previous 19 outings on their travels and have picked up 13 wins along the way but this upcoming trip to the Netherlands looks to be an extremely tough assignment for Michael Beale's side.

The Gers have managed to capture just one win from their last 17 away ties in the Champions League which, ironically, came in the form of a 1-0 win at PSV in August of last year but it looks unlikely that the Glasgow outfit will repeat that feat this time around.

PSV v Rangers Verdict

Both teams head into this vital return leg in solid form but although this play-off tie is evenly poised at 2-2, we expect PSV to gain the upper hand here and progress through to the group stage.

Therefore, our main bet will be PSV win @ 1.53

Other side bets worth considering:

PSV win & Over 2.5 goals @ 3.75

Correct score: PSV 2-1 @ 6.50