One goal from nowhere, another at the Copland end off the back of fantastic build-up, an Ibrahim Sangare strike in front of the Broomloan and a set-piece equaliser from the visiting side to draw the tie 2-2.

The first act of Rangers’ second successive Champions League play-off meeting with PSV was quite the deja vu trip and Michael Beale will hope the return leg is no different.

Abdallah Sima’s curling effort after a half with limited attacking encouragement was followed by Sangare’s equaliser just after the interval. Rabbi Matondo would add momentum to his redemption arc by restoring the hosts’ lead on 76 minutes before Luke de Jong added his side’s second from a corner.

“We’re super disappointed we conceded from a set play,” Beale reflected in the Ibrox press room after the game.

“There were moments in tonight’s game when I thought we were very good. I thought we scored two good goals and all night we caused them problems defensively. There were areas of the game we’d want to improve on, for sure. But everything is to play for. We wanted to set up next week and we’ve done that. We never had the game fully under control because at this level, against this level of opponent, it’s hard to do that.

“Tonight was a different type of game. There were spells in the game when we really had to defend. We had less possession and it means you have to have different qualities to show. It was the best performance in a certain way.”

This was a different style of game for the Ibrox crowd to adjust to, more reminiscent of pre-season outings when great emphasis was spent on what Rangers did without the ball. Last night, their approach was a success considering the quality of opposition faced. Rangers only had 31 percent of the ball and PSV shaded the xG 1.41 to 0.9 - as the trendline demonstrates their sightings of goal were more consistent over the course, but the quality of chance created remained low.

Only three of the visitor's 20 shots boasted an xG value over 0.09 and two of those, Sangare (0.24xG) and De Jong’s goals (0.18xG), ended up decisive. Clear sightings of goal were limited for Eindhoven and their first strike aside, they remained unable to find a free man in the penalty area. Beale branded last night the “best performance in a way” because of the quality his team kept pretty quiet in translation to chances. 

On the ball, as demonstrated in PSV’s pass network, Peter Bosz’s side morphed from their 4-3-3 into a 3-2-5, attempting to get a five-man attack across the pitch by using Ismael Saibari and Nao Lang in the half-spaces while Bakayoko and Dest stretched the game with pace. And while the loss of a natural left-footer at left-back in Patrick van Aanholt impacted the away side’s balance somewhat, it was Rangers’ off-ball approach which protected their goal and created opportunities in transition.

Rangers matched the asymmetrical shape faced. On the left, Sima was able to stay high and theoretically offer an outlet in transition because Teze remained deep while Dessers split the two strikers and Raskin could jump up onto Sangare (bear this in mind at the first goal) or double up with Barisic on Bakayoko if the visitors broke into the final third.

On the Rangers right, PSV pushed their full-back forward leaving Cifuentes and Tavernier to deal with Lang and Dest. At times, Cifuentes was slow to react to runs beyond but clearly, this remains an adjustment to the defensive responsibility his role entails.

Notice in this image, Raskin moving onto Sangare, Dessers splitting the strikers and Sima pushing onto Teze.

Notice in this image, Cifuentes moving out to Dest and Tavernier moving infield to mark Lang’s movement.

Beale could be seen ushering his team to play an extra 10 yards up the pitch in the first-half but in general, as demonstrated by the below pressure heatmap, Rangers kept PSV’s possession away from the penalty box and when it did reach that area, they defended their box well.

Raskin made a mammoth 36 pressures, closely followed by Cifuentes’ 33 while Dessers amassed 24. Tavernier defended well against a difficult opponent in Lang, as did Barisic against Bakayoko. Raskin was also quick to drop back and help out his left-back, to ensure that Rangers almost always doubled up on the young right-winger, who is capable attacking either side of a full-back.

The approach on either wing meant that often, Rangers were able to force PSV backwards (helped in part by Dest being left-footed). They slowed the game and playing in what Beale branded a “flat” front three with Dessers working hard to cover two centre-backs, PSV were always forced around the block, allowing the home side time to recover their numbers if the game moved from side to side. Their pressure on the ball prevented dangerous switches of play into space.

Look at PSV’s shot map, 0.7 of their xG derived from set-pieces and nearly all the efforts they attempted in the penalty box were headers from these situations. That will frustrate Beale in isolation but also offer him encouragement - Rangers are capable of stunting PSV in open play.

Rangers’ frustration approaching the break was their lack of threat into the available space. Sima looked unnatural on the left and took a heavy touch when he did make it through on goal, failing to release Barisic on other occasions. Too often when possession was won, solutions to create chances did not follow, until the 44th minute. Although Sima’s goal felt like it arrived ‘out of nothing’ it came about as a direct result of the hosts' pressing.

READ MORE: What it's like to manage Nico Raskin: 'He brings fire to games on his own'

Look at Dessers as PSV start a move below, just after Cantwell had flashed a ball across the face that the striker wasn’t in a position to attack. He spent a moment with his head in his hands but then quickly started to press, after Sima had also quickly recovered his position.

Below, the striker presses Ramalho and Dest back to Benitez and then rushes in on the goalkeeper, who only has one short passing option - Sangare. It may not look like much, but Dessers has helped shape a pressing trap almost single-handily with Raskin close by.

As the Rangers Review highlighted in a Raskin scout report published this January, the Belgian sprints into tackles and often this can give opponents a false sense of security regarding the time they have on the ball. How many other players in the squad could fulfil Raskin's unique role last night of pressing forwards to make up the ground for this goal, but also consistently support Barisic and create a two-vs-one against Bakayoko?

Sangare receiving with his back to goal was a trigger for Raskin to jump onto the No.6 as he had all game. Moments before, PSV’s anchorman had turned Raskin brilliantly in the midfield but on this occasion, he was caught out. Raskin along with the help of Dessers, wins the ball back and Sima does the rest.

It was a 0.05xG chance that ended up with a 0.71PSxG rating given the placement of Sima's shot right into the top corner.

Beale’s spoken about recruiting “energy” in the front line since arriving and this goal, alongside Cantwell’s urgency throughout, epitomised that sentiment.

Matondo would arrive from the bench with 25 minutes to go and finally provide the finishing touch to a transition that had been threatened all evening. Cantwell, who’d so often lacked support under pressure before the break, found his front two pulling in different angles and Dessers came up with a perfect pass before Matondo finished first time.

The chance rating of 0.21xG shows a goal was no certainty - Matondo had to meet the inch-perfect pass and finish back across his body.

PSV’s two goals will frustrate. Connor Goldson, who enjoyed an excellent evening, said after “You can’t give away goals from corners” while Sangare’s strike was the only time the visitors fashioned a free shot in open play inside Rangers’ box.

“It is finely tuned. I think the two penalty boxes are going to be decisive. It’s important you play well between them but the most important thing is you take your chances when they come,” Beale added after full-time.

Last time out this same score was followed by a 1-0 Rangers win in Eindhoven, so can lightning strike twice?

“I think so, yes, of course. Naturally, we will go across and be extremely positive,” Beale concluded. His side will travel to the Netherlands with confidence and for good reason - they have the tools to defy the odds for a second year in succession.