PSV Eindhoven 5-1 Rangers (agg 7-3): Champions League dream over for Michael Beale’s side
Rangers #Rangers
Rangers captain James Tavernier brought his side back to within a goal of PSV Eindhoven only for Luuk de Jong to strike moments later
Rangers’ dreams of an immediate return to the Champions League group stage were extinguished in excruciating fashion by a ruthless PSV in Eindhoven.
The Ibrox side had harboured hopes of exorcising last season’s disfigured continental campaign but were unable to eject the Dutch from the competition in the way they did here last term.
Ismael Saibari’s first-half header nudged PSV ahead on aggregate for the first time in the tie, and the Moroccan added a second not long after the break. Game over? Not quite.
James Tavernier’s strike gave Rangers a slither of hope, but Luuk de Jong guided in a header within a couple of minutes, before Joey Veerman’s suspiciously offside effort and a grotesque Connor Goldson own goal completed a chastening evening.
It means that instead of joining Celtic in the Champions League, Rangers will return to the Europa League group stage for their first foray in that competition since the 2022 final defeat in Seville.
“It’s fair that PSV goes through,” said Rangers manager Michael Beale. “I thought the story of the two legs was we couldn’t handle [Ismael] Saibari and [Luuk] de Jong.
“I think we played against an excellent team over two legs. For this team coming together after a lot of change, this game came far too soon, that’s what’s clear.”
Despite an admirable opening quarter, this outcome always seemed the most likely once PSV ratcheted up their play to a level Rangers struggled to handle.
Jack Butland had to make a couple of splendid saves and De Jong somehow planted a back-post header wide but the dam eventually burst.
Saibari’s first came after a piercing move and his second was a smart finish from a De Jong cutback. Both were befitting of his status as the best performer on the pitch.
Striker De Jong added his name to the register with a glancing header, Veerman slewed in a shot amid shouts for offside, then Goldson got into a fankle trying to return a ball to Butland and ending up shunting it into his own net.
Mercifully, it ended there, but only after Butland shovelled another couple of attempts away as PSV threatened to run riot on an evening when they vanquished a few demons of their own.
The Dutch had spoken all week about gaining revenge for last year. In the second half here, they franked that talk with deed.
Player of the match – Ismael Saibari
The midfielder’s filthy stepover led to PSV’s first goal last week and he was a swaggering presence here too. His two goals were splendidly taken but, aside from that, he was all clever feints, tidy angles and smart passes. A player who won’t look out of place on the Champions League stage.’Rangers melt in cauldron of noise’ – analysis
Beale had said his team were “due a big performance”, but they were unable to deliver in this cauldron of noise. They are not the first – PSV have not lost here since November – but the manner in which they folded will be a cause for concern.
What impact might that disappointment – and the physical toil of this tie – have on Rangers as they prepare for the season’s first Old Firm game on Sunday?
That remains to be seen but, if he looks hard enough, the manager might be able to pick some scraps from this in the days between now and then.
What if Goldson’s flicked header had gone the other side of the post? What if Rabbi Matondo hadn’t scudded an upright after an outrageous dart through the PSV defence? What if they’d not conceded so soon after Tavernier guided in Sam Lammers’ cross to make it 2-1?
That, though, is all moot right now. What matters is Sunday. Celtic. Then the Europa League.
What they said Focus must now be winning the domestic league – Beale
Rangers manager Michael Beale: “I think we played against an excellent team over two legs. Obviously we scored three goals over the two games, but we’re bitterly disappointed with the way we defended.
“For this team coming together after a lot of change, this game came far too soon, that’s what’s clear. I think group has a way to go because it’s a new team. The most important thing for us is to get their via our domestic competition and winning our home league.”
Rangers captain James Tavernier: “It’s just disappointed with the manner of the goals but it’s something that we have to brush off really quick because we’ve got a massive game at the weekend.
“It’s still really raw and disappointing. We can’t dwell on it too much. We’ve got to brush this off as quickly as possible. I know everyone’s hurting. We’ve got to respond in a really good way.”
What’s next?
Just the small matter of an Old Firm game, with Celtic coming to Ibrox on Sunday (12:00 BST). And before then, the Europa League draw takes place from 12:00 on Friday.
PSV, for what it’s worth, visit RKC Waalwijk on Saturday in the Eredivisie.
Line-upsPSV Eindhoven
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Benítez
3Teze22Schouten18Boscagli8Dest
6Sangaré23Veerman
11Bakayoko34Saibari7Lang
9L de Jong
Substitutes
Rangers
Formation 4-4-1-1
1Butland
2Tavernier6Goldson5Souttar31Barisic
15Cifuentes4Lundstram43Raskin17Matondo
13Cantwell
9Dessers
Substitutes
Referee:José María Sánchez Martínez
Attendance:34,560
Live Text
Match ends, PSV Eindhoven 5, Rangers 1.
Second Half ends, PSV Eindhoven 5, Rangers 1.
Offside, Rangers. James Tavernier tries a through ball, but José Cifuentes is caught offside.
Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven).
Todd Cantwell (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Guus Til (PSV Eindhoven) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luuk de Jong.
Foul by André Ramalho (PSV Eindhoven).
Sam Lammers (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Luuk de Jong (PSV Eindhoven).
John Souttar (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by André Ramalho (PSV Eindhoven).
Sam Lammers (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. José Cifuentes (Rangers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Connor Goldson.
Substitution, PSV Eindhoven. Malik Tillman replaces Johan Bakayoko.
Substitution, PSV Eindhoven. Yorbe Vertessen replaces Ismael Saibari.
Attempt saved. Guus Til (PSV Eindhoven) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luuk de Jong with a cross.
Substitution, Rangers. Ryan Jack replaces Rabbi Matondo.
Attempt missed. Todd Cantwell (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Rabbi Matondo (Rangers) is shown the yellow card.
Player of the match
SaibariIsmael Saibari
PSV Eindhoven
Squad number34Player nameSaibari
Squad number9Player nameL de Jong
Squad number11Player nameBakayoko
Squad number23Player nameVeerman
Squad number7Player nameLang
Squad number3Player nameTeze
Squad number22Player nameSchouten
Squad number6Player nameSangaré
Squad number18Player nameBoscagli
Squad number8Player nameDest
Squad number1Player nameBenítez
Squad number20Player nameTil
Squad number2Player nameSambo
Squad number32Player nameVertessen
Squad number5Player nameAndré Ramalho
Squad number10Player nameTillman
Rangers
Squad number1Player nameButland
Squad number17Player nameMatondo
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number13Player nameCantwell
Squad number14Player nameLammers
Squad number5Player nameSouttar
Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number43Player nameRaskin
Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Squad number9Player nameDessers
Squad number15Player nameCifuentes
Squad number21Player nameSterling
Squad number8Player nameJack
Squad number99Player nameDanilo