Rangers drew 2-2 with PSV on Tuesday evening, ensuring next week's Champions League play-off return leg in Eindhoven is finely poised.
From Rabbi Matondo's future to James Tavernier's positioning and the striking options - our writers answer your pressing questions from the match.
Is the 4-4-2 we seemed to play during the second half how Rangers will start in Eindhoven, or is a back three the way to go?
As explained in greater detail in the Rangers Review's post-match analysis, the home side were pretty solid defensively. PSV created 1.41xG and around half of that total derived from corners. A glance at the visitor's shot map below indicates the lack of activity, headers aside, in the penalty area with Sangare's second-half strike a break from the norm.
Michael Beale's side did well to match the numbers on each wing and rarely looked vulnerable to switches of play, because of their ability to force the Dutch side backwards and slow down their build-up wherever possible. Peter Bosz' side often build a five-man overload against a back four with their left-back pushing up to form width on the left and Patrick van Aanholt's absence did somewhat limit this ploy, as his replacement Serino Dest is right-footed.
John Lundstram may come into the team next week to help defend the runs that PSV made down that side of the pitch in the second leg, and offer the flexibility of transitioning to a back five. However overall, expect Rangers' approach off the ball to remain similar. Beale's team appeared pretty dependable against the ball, now his task is ensuring Rangers appear slicker in transition and more comfortable on the ball for the space that will be on show in Eindhoven.
Joshua Barrie
Should Rabbi Matondo play from the start next week?
It’s the biggest selection dilemma that Beale is facing ahead of the return leg. Matondo made a significant impact from the bench against Livingston recently and provided a similar contribution on Tuesday night. The winger produced a brilliant finish to cap an excellent counter-attack and Matondo’s pace in transition is such a threat. Bosz is renowned for his attacking philosophy, but it can leave space for opponents to exploit - particularly in the full-back areas. Beale’s decision to start Abdallah Sima was fuelled by this factor, but he failed to impress outside of a brilliant goal. The onus is on PSV to attack next week in front of their own support and Rangers will aim to hurt them on the counterattack. Pace in wide areas will be paramount to achieving that and Beale will likely start either Sima or Matondo. Based on recent performances, Matondo is more deserving of a start than his teammate, but don't be surprised if Beale picks Sima. The Senegalese attacker provides more of a physical presence than Matondo and his aerial ability at set-pieces will be a factor. If Beale goes with Sima, Matondo will provide a dangerous option from the bench as demonstrated on Tuesday night.
Euan Robertson
Does Tavernier need to be dropped? He's not a defender and too often is caught way out of position leaving others to cover - surely the manager can see this?
It's understandable looking at PSV's attacks in isolation down the right-hand side to question Tavernier's resolve, but criticism in this case is a little out of context.
Often in European competition, you'll see Rangers defend narrowly and leave space on the far side of the pitch. The trade-off is, 'We can leave space out wide to offer the centre extra protection and let teams play around us'. Instead on Tuesday, Rangers' approach focused on not giving PSV a free pass into the front line.
PSV are extremely dangerous out wide with Johan Bakayoko's one-v-one threat on the right and Nao Lang and Van Aanholt's dynamics on the left. Van Aanholt's injury was a boost for Rangers because it ensured that the visitors didn't have a natural left-footer overlapping on that side. Rangers' plan was to never offer a free pass into the front line, always forcing PSV backwards and slowing down their pace of play. This ensured they lined up off the ball in an asymmetrical pressing shape.
Jose Cifuentes would move out to press Dest while Todd Cantwell covered Joey Veerman. Sima was tasked with defending Jordan Teze, who normally stayed deep, while Nico Raskin split his time between pressurising Ibrahim Sangare and supporting Borna Barisic against Bakayoko.
On the right, Tavernier was tasked with following Lang who often played in the half-space leaving Cifuentes to press PSV's left-back Dest.
Here, notice Tavernier stays narrow marking Lang instead of pressing Dest by the touchline and leaving a gap, as Cifuentes forces the full-back backwards.
Or here, notice as PSV move the ball from right to left and have a free man pinned to the touchline in Dest, it's Cifuentes who moves out to the full-back while Tavernier remains narrow, despite being closer to the full-back in the first frame.
On a few occasions if Lang and Dest made countermovements at the same time, Tavernier and Cifuentes were guilty of pressing the same man and PSV did at times find joy down the sides but generally, this wasn't through either Rangers full-back being out-played one-v-one or caught out of position, but because of off-ball runs others had responsibility to track. It was a pace of game Cifuentes is clearly still adjusting too.
The point being, when Tavernier was pulled wide for the first PSV goal as their centre-back Olivier Boscagli ran through the defence, he wasn't necessarily 'out of position' - the right-back was tracking Lang as he had done all game.
Moments before the goal notice Cifuentes tracking Dest by the touchline with Tavernier narrow.
As Boscagli strode forward with the ball moments later, Tavernier had moved wide to follow Lang, arguably a little too slowly in this instance, trusting Jack or Cifuentes to protect the middle.
PSV manipulated the situation well with Dest pulling deeper to attract Cifuentes and Boscagli, perhaps surprisingly for the hosts, making a run beyond given as a natural left-footer he was able to provide an overlapping cross that, for one of the first times in the game, allowed PSV to quickly switch and find a free man on the far side.
Ibrahim Sangare finishes off a beautifully worked move from PSV to level the scoring! 💪
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 22, 2023
It's all square in Glasgow! 👀#UCL pic.twitter.com/I3MYsxzgnz
Tavernier could've perhaps been quicker to press Lang's pass at the first goal, but Rangers were still defending a cross from a really deep area they'd have hoped to deal with. Overall this was a good defensive performance against a very dangerous opponent, spare a few nervy encounters at defensive set-pieces.
Joshua Barrie
Is it too late to add a striker in this window? I'm not sold on any of them so far!
Beale has hinted that he could sign another attacker when discussing finding a player who could replicate what Ryan Kent provided. With this in mind, expect Beale to target a versatile forward who can play in a variety of roles across the front three, rather than a classic No.9. Some supporters remain unconvinced about Rangers’ current striking options, but it’s important to stress patience.
READ MORE: Rangers vs PSV analysis - Why Champions League lightning can strike twice
Cyriel Dessers has endured criticism recently but he’s improved in recent weeks while remaining on the search for match sharpness. Dessers provided two assists against PSV and his physical attributes helped Rangers get up the pitch. There was huge excitement around Danilo’s arrival and the Brazilian striker has already registered two goals. His omission against PSV was perhaps a surprise given the outlay spent on him but Dessers’ physicality was an asset. Sam Lammers looked really promising in pre-season but he’s not carried that form into the competitive action, however, like Dessers and Danilo, the Dutchman deserves time. In terms of the Glen Kamara money, the manager has stressed that Rangers’ net spend won’t be that high come the end of the window. One more arrival should be announced regardless of Champions League progression, but don't expect it to be an out-and-out No.9.
Euan Robertson
Did Raskin and Cifuentes struggle up against PSV's midfield?
The quality of PSV’s midfielders was definitely a factor in Rangers' performance on the ball overall. Sangare, Ismael Saibari and Veerman are three quality operators and they ensured the visitors dominated possession. As Beale mentioned post-match, Rangers faced a completely different challenge to their domestic games and it would be unrealistic to expect them to control proceedings against a top side. Raskin and Cifuentes played as box-to-box No.8’s against Servette last week and the Belgian midfielder excelled in the second half. His role altered against PSV because Rangers weren’t able to control the game for a sustained period and he completed a lot of defensive work in return. The home side looked to double up on the dangerous Johan Bakayoko and Raskin was tasked with providing support to Barisic in this area, a role he carried out well. The Belgian also played a pivotal part in regaining possession for Sima's opening goal, stepping up to press Sangare. It was a difficult night for Cifuentes, who as mentioned above was caught out by off-ball runs at points, but it’s important to stress this was only his second start in European competition. PSV are on a different level to MLS outfits and Cifuentes will benefit from the standard faced.
Euan Robertson
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