RANGERS will need to take an alternative approach to progress to the group stages of the Champions League.
That's the view of Scotland and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side face the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie with PSV this week.
The game is in the balance at the half-way stage following a 2-2 draw at Ibrox on Tuesday.
Last season, on the run to the Europa League final, Rangers defeated German giants Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig. They also got the better of Braga.
However, in these matches, they played at home in the second leg of the ties.
This was also the case for their last qualifer against Union Saint-Gilloise.
On this occasion, they will need to go to The Netherlands and win in the return leg.
And Dalglish says this presents a very different challenge for the Light Blyes.
He wrote in his Sunday Post column: “Rangers got some huge results in the Europa League last season, but most of them were when they had the return leg at Ibrox. This is different, and now there will need to be a change of mindset.
“Giovanni will have a plan, and it will be interesting to see exactly what that is. We will get an inkling of it when we see his starting line-up before kick-off, and all the more apparent when the game starts. Does he go on the front foot, to try to get the first goal? Or does he sit back, let PSV have the ball, and try to hit on the counter?
“Rangers will definitely need to be patient. They will have spells without the ball, and they need to stay compact and focused. As much as they face an uphill struggle to go through, this is not insurmountable. Remember, they scored two goals at Ibrox, and Antonio Colak’s equaliser was really pleasing on the eye, a great team goal.
“The Croatian striker is looking the part, and he has a good percentage of chances converted from openings created. If Giovanni starts with Antonio – and it will be either him or Alfredo Morelos – then it’s vital to get good service into the penalty box. That’s where James Tavernier will, as ever, be important. The Rangers captain has been exceptional on the European stage, and another massive performance from him will be required.
“On the evidence of last Tuesday night’s game at Ibrox, I’d have to make PSV Eindhoven clear favourites to go through to the Champions League group stage.
"The Dutch club came away with a 2-2 draw and I was impressed by Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side. They have some very good players, and seemed extremely comfortable with the way they were asked to play, and how they handled the occasion.
“There is no doubt Giovanni van Bronckhorst would have wanted to take some sort of lead over to his home country. His main frustration would have been that they got ahead in the tie, but then conceded an equaliser from a set-piece.
“Indeed, both of PSV’s goals came from corners, and it’s no wonder Giovanni was angry with the level of defending. However, the positive to take from that is that PSV didn’t tear them apart in open play to score any goals.”
