Champions League

Rangers face arguably their biggest match of the season less than a month into the new campaign as they bid to reach the group stages of the Champions League in their play-off second leg at PSV Eindhoven.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men have a tough task in his homeland after a 2-2 first-leg draw at Ibrox handed the initiative to the Dutch giants.

Rangers have given themselves a mountain to climb after losing 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier versus Union Saint Gilloise. However, Ibrox will be jumping for the return fixture and we haven’t given up hope of the Glasgow outfit progressing.

PSV held their own throughout the opening encounter with Monaco at Stade Louis II and are fancied to finish the job off on home turf. There was little to choose between these sides in that 1-1 Champions League draw but the Dutch outfit returned to Eindhoven happier.

Liverpool didn’t quite fully sink the Yellow Submarine at Anfield but it is hard to see Villarreal overcoming a 2-0 deficit in the second leg. In fact, such was the Reds’ dominance on Merseyside, they are expected to oblige again in Spain in this Champions League semi-final.

Manchester City claimed a slender advantage to take to Madrid as Kevin De Bruyne’s second-half goal put them 1-0 up against Atletico. It was not perhaps the margin of victory that Pep Guardiola’s side would have liked heading to the Spanish capital but they remain firm favourites to make the semi-finals.

Liverpool’s dominant first-leg performance in the Estadio da Luz means Jurgen Klopp’s side have one foot in the semi-finals, with Benfica a massive 26.00 to progress to the last four. January signing Luis Diaz, signed from Benfica’s rivals Porto, returned to haunt the Portuguese giants with a starring role for the Reds as he netted a late third to put Liverpool in full control of the tie.

Bayern Munich have it all to do to reach the Champions League semi-finals. The German champions lost 1-0 to Villarreal after an early goal from Arnaut Danjuma. However, Julian Nagelsmann’s side have a strong record in front of their own fans at Allianz Arena.

Juventus had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the first leg but will be confident of completing the job when they host Villarreal with a place in the Champions League quarter-finals at stake. Dusan Vlahovic scored inside the first minute but Dani Parejo’s equaliser boosted Villarreal’s chances.

Chelsea head to France for the second leg of their Champions League tie with a 2-0 lead and it would be a surprise if they fail to make it through to the quarter-finals. A goal in each half from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic secured victory at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United were second best for much of the first leg against Atletico Madrid but returned to Old Trafford level at 1-1 thanks to a late equaliser. They are now firm favourites at 1.42 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals but those odds look too short.

Ajax twice wasted a lead in the first leg of their Champions League clash with Benfica but are expected to be more ruthless in the return match. The teams drew 2-2 in Portugal a fortnight ago but Ajax will feel they wasted the chance to return to Amsterdam with the lead.

PSG were more dominant in the first leg of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid than the result suggested and can highlight their superiority in the Spanish capital. Kylian Mbappe scored the goal which sees the French side head to Madrid with a 1-0 lead.

Manchester City have effectively already secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals and Sporting Lisbon will hope that means they can avoid another heavy defeat in the second leg. City are 5-0 up from the first leg in the Portuguese capital.