PSV vs. Rangers Betting Tips: Back de Jong to find the net in Champions League clash

Rangers travel to Eindhoven to take on PSV on Wednesday evening in the second leg of their Champions League play-off. After a 9/1 winning bet builder on the first leg, we’ve called upon Anthony Eadson to preview the action and provide us with his best bets.

We have a case of deja vu here as Rangers once again face PSV away from home in a tie that is on a knife-edge. The first leg between the pair ended in stalemate 12 months ago and this was the case last week with a thrilling 2-2 draw at Ibrox. 

Abdallah Sima opened the scoring for Rangers in the first half before Ibrahim Sangare leveled the scores. Rangers then regained the lead through an excellent strike from Rabbi Matondo, but it was Luke De Jong’s attempted header which came off his shoulder that would be the final goal six minutes from time as the score finished 2-2. 

Bookmakers are taking no chances with PSV in this second leg, pricing the Dutch side at just 2/5 to get the win in normal time. The draw is on show at 13/5, while a win for the visitors is chalked-up at 4/1 with most betting sites.

Under Giovanni van Bronckhorst last year Rangers secured a 1-0 win at the Phillips Stadium, which saw them progress to the Group Stage and they will be wanting a similar result this evening. For those looking to get them onside, 3/1 is available in the ‘To Qualify' market in contrast to 1/5 for PSV.

Peter Bosz’s men may only have equalised six minutes from time in Scotland but I don’t think the 2-2 scoreline fully reflects the match and I’m backing them to get the job done quite comfortably on home soil.

At Ibrox, PSV managed 69% possession, a figure that should rise in-front of their own fans on Wednesday. They also managed 19 attempts in comparison to 11 of Rangers, also winning the corner count 10-5.

When it comes to cards, Rangers picked up four yellows in the first-leg, while PSV collected just one. I think we will see a similar narrative in Eindhoven and I’ll be siding with Paddy Power’s offering of PSV To Win; PSV Most Corners & Rangers Most Cards at 2/1. It’s also well worth noting that PSV had the luxury of no domestic game last weekend, while Rangers had a trip to Ross County to focus on.

Regular readers of bettingodds.com will be aware that I put up James Tavernier to be carded and Luuk de Jong to Score at 9/1, with the double clicking in the second half thanks to the PSV forward's miss-timed header.

I’m taking the same double again this week, and I’m surprised to see the longer price of 10/1 on show with William Hill. With the reward of a spot in the Champions League group stage up for grabs, referee Jose Sanchez could well be a busy man and I’m once again backing Tavernier to collect a card. Only Alfredo Morelos and John Lundstrum were booked on more occasions in the Scottish Premiership for Rangers last season.

William Hill are a stand-out best price on both these selections and the 7/5 that is on show for de Jong to score anytime holds some value in my opinion. The former Sevilla and Barcelona man has scored five goals in five appearances so far this season across all competitions and will be desperate to send PSV to the next stage of the competition in his second stint with the club.