Rangers face PSV Eindhoven in the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie. The teams played out a pulsating 2-2 draw at Ibrox last season to leave the tie in the balance. 

Rangers famously secured a group stage place last season with a 1-0 win in the Phillips Stadium and Michael Beale will be hoping to emulate that achievement. 

Our writers have predicted their starting line-ups.

Euan Robertson 

Before deliberating which players to start tonight, Michael Beale faces a dilemma over his which formation to deploy. 

There will be a temptation to revert to three centre-backs, but John Lundstram provides Beale with a more flexible alternative. Lundstram has his critics but he’s best suited against European opposition and he allows Rangers the flexibility to alter their shape during the game. 

Lundstram often drops into the right centre-back role to cover James Tavernier out of possession and to help Rangers build possession. Beale was criticised for starting two ‘defensive-minded’ midfielders against Kilmarnock, but this game is more suited to that tactic and Ryan Jack should start. 

Jack Butland has made an excellent start to his Rangers career and he will be protected by the same back four from the weekend win over Ross County.

READ MORE: Your PSV vs Rangers questions answered - Matondo and back three

Beale wants to provide a well-drilled defensive structure to allow his advanced players freedom to create. Todd Cantwell will play up a line but he will be afforded a licence to roam and link with Nicolas Raskin.

Pace will be important to maximise counter-attacking opportunities and Abdallah Sima will likely be favoured over Rabbi Matondo, with Cyriel Dessers leading the line. 

Starting line-up: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack, Raskin, Cantwell, Sima, Dessers.

Joshua Barrie 

This writer is predicting a solitary change to the starting 11 tomorrow, with Michael Beale opting for continuity as his team seeks to defy expectations in Eindhoven.

Jack Butland has very quickly lived up to expectations, becoming an integral part of this side in a short space of time. Just like in Servette, the 30-year-old will need big moments if Rangers are to reach the group stages once again.

The defence performed well overall last week. Yes, the right-side was untangled in the lead-up to PSV's first goal of the evening, but both full-backs defended their one-v-one duels well, with plenty of support from the wide midfielders ahead of them. John Souttar and Connor Goldson will need to find similar levels to command their box in open play and offer a platform for progression.

While a back three from the start is a possibility, it's perhaps more likely that Beale injects the team with a more defensively-minded profile on the right of midfield in John Lundstram. Lundstram enjoyed a good performance in Dingwall and could slot into the role Jose Cifuentes occupied last week, providing balance next to Ryan Jack. Nico Raskin will continue on the left where he performed a vital hybrid pressing role in the first leg.

Todd Cantwell's inclusion at No.10 is guaranteed for the moment and ahead of him, Cyriel Dessers and Abdallah Sima will likely be handed a start. 

Matondo's pace can impact the game from the start or the bench and although both starting forwards were frustrated last week, they provided moments in the final third. Crucially their blend of pace and physicality can offer Beale the off-ball leveller required to get past a strong opponent. 

Starting line-up: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack, Raskin, Cantwell, Sima, Dessers.

 

Rangers Review:

Derek Clark

It's hard to envisage many if any changes to the starting XI that started the first leg at Ibrox.

The one potential selection dilemma Michael Beale has could be whether to start Rabbi Matondo or use him as an impact sub as was the case last week. The likelihood is the Welshman will start from the bench with Abdallah Sima retaining his position on the left.

That aside, the back four will remain the same while the midfield of Ryan Jack, Nico Raskin, Jose Cifuentes and Todd Cantwell should provide formidable resistance to PSV's engine room.

Cyriel Dessers had his best game in a Rangers jersey at Ibrox and Michael Beale will need a similar performance at the Philips Stadion.

Starting line-up: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic, Jack, Raskin, Cifuentes, Cantwell, Sima, Dessers.

Rangers Review: