Ones to watch as Rangers look to pull off PSV shock

Dan Fitch
LiveScore
  
Cyriel Dessers created both goals for Rangers in the first leg
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Rangers head to PSV Eindhoven tonight for the second leg of their Champions League play-off with a big task ahead of them. 

The Scottish giants were twice ahead in the first game at Ibrox, but the visitors fought back on both occasions to head back to the Netherlands with a 2-2 draw. 

Now with home advantage, Peter Bosz's side are the favourites to book their place in the group stage. 

Ahead of what promises to be another exciting clash, we look at the key stars to look out for.

Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven)

Saibari was the best player on the pitch in the first leg, causing havoc with his forays forward from midfield. 

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The Morocco Under-23s international established himself in the PSV squad last season and was mainly used as a winger following the departures of Cody Gakpo and Noni Madueke. 

Now he is being utilised as an attacking midfielder and the 22-year-old is proving to be productive with a goal and two assists from his six appearances in 2023-24. 

Those returns do not include the magical stepover which presented Ibrahim Sangare with the chance to smash home the first of PSV's equalisers against Rangers. 

Ismael Saibari caused problems for Rangers with his runs from midfield

Cyriel Dessers (Rangers)

It has been a mixed start for Cyriel Dessers at Rangers since making a £4.3million move from Cremonese but he showed what he was capable of in the first leg. 

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Yet to score in three Premiership appearances, the Nigerian international created both goals for his new side last week.

Just before half-time he cleverly cut back the ball for Abdallah Sima to fire home. Then late in the game, Dessers played an inviting ball across from the right for Rabbi Matondo to finish. 

The 28-year-old is a well-respected figure in Holland, where he has proved himself to be a reliable goalscorer during spells at NAC Breda, Utrecht, Heracles and Feyenoord. 

Luuk de Jong (PSV Eindhoven)

Luuk de Jong has been a prolific scorer across two spells at PSV

It was veteran Luuk de Jong who prevented Rangers from winning the first leg after he headed home an equaliser to make it 2-2. 

Now 33, the striker is enjoying his second spell at the Dutch club having scored 112 times in 204 appearances for them between 2014 and 2019. 

That form won him a move to Spain, where he played for both Sevilla and Barcelona before returning to Eindhoven last season and netting another 18 goals in 39 games. 

The 39-cap international is still showing absolutely no signs of slowing down, producing five more strikes and two assists in six outings this term.

Abdallah Sima (Rangers)

Sima is another new recruit who showed a tantalising glimpse of what he is capable of with his first-leg display. 

The 22-year-old was picked out by Dessers and forcefully curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area. 

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This followed the Brighton loanee's first goal for the club in the 4-0 win against Livingstone earlier this month. 

The 6ft 2in Senegalese forward will be looking to show he has a future at the Amex after previous temporary spells with Stoke and Angers.

Tags

Champions LeagueRangersPSV EindhovenScottish PremiershipEredivisie

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