Michael Stewart reckons Rangers face a serious test of their continental mettle to overcome PSV Eindhoven and reach the Champions League group stage. Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side host Eredivisie leaders on Tuesday in a two-legged shootout for a place at European football's top table.
Rangers warmed up for the occasion with a 4-0 drubbing of St Johnstone while PSV hit five against Go Ahead Eagles on Saturday. They've hit a rich scoring vein their manager Ruud van Nistelrooy would've been proud of and saw off Ligue 1 side Monaco in the previous round.
Rangers have turned Ibrox into a European fortress in recent times but pundit Stewart wonders whether the fact the return leg will be in Eindhoven, not Glasgow, will change the dynamic. He reckons it's crucial Van Bronckhorst's team head for the Netherlands with a lead to defend. Asked whether Rangers can overcome PSV, Stewart told BBC Sportscene: "It's going to be difficult. PSV are a very, very good side.
"They've managed to beat Ajax in the Dutch Super Cup and they're in a good place at the top of the Eredivisie after a few games. The first leg at home... Ibrox is a formidable place for teams to go to but just whether the fact it's not the second leg at home, whether that's going to prove a difference or not, time will tell.
"But I think it's important they have a lead to take to Eindhoven in the second leg."
Meanwhile, Van Bronckhorst says his friendship with Van Nistelrooy will go out the window when their teams collide next week. The Ibrox gaffer will come up against his former Netherlands team-mate for the first time but is adamant it'll be strictly business when the whistle goes.
He said: It will be good to see Ruud again, it’s been a while. He’s had a great experience of winning at PSV, from the academy to the first team as a player and now he’s manager.
“But when the whistle goes, it’s game time. Let’s make sure we do everything we can in the two games to go through."
