Staunch Rangers record stands as reported £13m baller takes Champions League stage
Rangers is the only team that has defeated PSV Eindhoven at home after the Dutch team defeated Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16 of the Champions League.
Since 2022, when Giovanni van Bronckhorst famously led Rangers to a 1-0 victory at the Phillips Stadion, no team has defeated the Eredivisie leaders at home.
Not even the titans of the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund, who were held to a 1-1 draw in Eindhoven, where the Champions League match was extremely well matched before returning to Germany.
The match in the Netherlands was initiated by former Rangers player Malik Tillman. Donyell Malen stunned everyone with a goal on his PSV comeback, but Luuk de Jong’s penalty saved a draw.
Rangers PSV record remains after their visit to Dortmund.
The fact that Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Rangers are the last club to defeat a formidable PSV Eindhoven at home is a credit to his management.
Before Antonio Colak’s historic strike sent the Ibrox side back to the Champions League for the first time in twelve years, Rangers had held the Dutch team 2-2 at Ibrox.
Rangers’ disastrous group stage campaign aside, they were matched against PSV Eindhoven once more in this season’s Champions League qualifying.
There was a feeling of déjà vu after another 2-2 draw at Ibrox, but PSV showed off their superior skill with a 5-1 thrashing in the Netherlands.
It’s a result that doesn’t seem as bad in retrospect after Rangers, sporting a makeover, defeated a PSV squad that was about to enter its prime, after emerging from a Champions League group that included Arsenal, RC Lens, and Sevilla.
When the two teams play again in a week, PSV Eindhoven has a strong chance of making the Champions League quarterfinals thanks to the draw with Borussia Dortmund.
Malik Tillman is validated by the Champions League
Malik Tillman, a 21-year-old attacker for the USA, made his move from Rangers to PSV this summer validated by winning the Champions League on a memorable night for the international player.
The attacking midfielder was on the opposing team in qualifying this season, despite having been instrumental in leading Rangers to the Champions League the previous year.
Malik Tillman, who played a significant role in PSV Eindhoven’s stalemate with Borussia Dortmund, missed two important first-half opportunities and won the penalty, which Luuk de Jong duly converted.
Rangers’ first loan option was controversially withdrawn in the summer, but the young midfielder is living up to Bayern Munich’s £13 million valuation.
The summer transfer has come back into sharp focus as rumors about Utrecht loanee and Rangers bust Sam Lammers and a possible move to FC Twente are accumulating.
Rangers signed the 26-year-old from Serie A team Atalanta for an alleged £3.5 million; Michael Beale was playing Football Manager with a player he had long admired.
However, the English manager’s deal backfired against him in the context of a string of of faltering signatures – was ultimately ejected by the Ibrox club.
Even though Philippe Clement gave Sam Lammers his first team debut at first, he too was unable to bring out the best in this mysterious athlete whose obvious potential is often overshadowed by his anxieties.
The striker, who was sent on loan to Utrecht, is reportedly making an impression during his brief stay in the Netherlands. This is advantageous for Rangers as they attempt to mitigate what now looks to be a significant loss.
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