PSV proved too strong twice in the previous round against Austrian SK Sturm Graz. The team now faces a duel with Rangers, which will decide who qualifies for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. The final hurdle against a not so unknown.
A repeat of last season's Champions League playoff round awaits. PSV took a 1-0 lead at Ibrox through Ibrahim Sangaré (37'), after which Antonio Čolak (40') and Tom Lawrence (70') scored for the Scots. Armando Obispo headed in the equalizer not much later (78'). PSV has taken on Rangers four times before at Ibrox Stadium. From those previous encounters, twice no winner emerged and won. PSV once. Once Rangers ran away with the win.
Ticket group stage
PSV is fighting for a seventeenth participation in the main tournament of the UEFA Champions League. The last participation dates back to 2018-2019 when PSV dealt with BATE Borisov in the playoff round. Already nine times before, PSV participated in the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Champions League. Five times it reached the main tournament. AC Milan, FC Basel, Benfica and Rangers kept PSV from a ticket.
A reunion
For PSV'er Malik Tillman, the game at Ibrox will count as a reunion with his old club. He scored twelve goals in 43 official games for Rangers last season. The American played nine European games for the club and scored one goal. In the decisive game for the UEFA Champions League group stage at Philips Stadium last season, Tillman was responsible for the assist on the only goal in that match (0-1).
The article continues below the photo.
European success
Luuk de Jong is third on PSV's European top scorer list, behind Willy van der Kuijlen (29) and Harry Lubse (18). Only Van der Kuijlen scored at least as many European goals for Dutch teams as De Jong. Luuk managed seventeen in red-white and ten for FC Twente. Johan Cruijff (26) and Jari Litmanen (26) complete the top five.
Since last season, De Jong has been directly involved in 10 goals in 11 European matches for PSV. He scored six goals and assisted his teammates four times. He managed to find the net in both duels against SK Sturm Graz (3). De Jong could become the first player to be a goal-scorer in four consecutive European matches for PSV since Balázs Dzsudzsák in 2010.
PSV Academy player
PSV meets a player from its own youth academy. Current Rangers striker Sam Lammers went through PSV's youth academy. He eventually scored six goals in 29 appearances in PSV 1 (2016-2020). For Young PSV, it was 30 hits in 63 games in the First Division.
Brand new recruit
Recruit Sergiño Dest, who has only just signed a contract with PSV, will also travel to Glasgow. He is eligible to play in the playoff round and is available almost immediately. Jerdy Schouten and Malik Tillman can also make their European debut in red and white.
