Juventus and PSV Eindhoven meet again in this season’s UEFA Champions League, and this is by far the most critical clash for either side.
One may have to go as far back as 2007 when PSV Eindhoven won a knockout game in the UEFA Champions League when they eliminated Arsenal. Their record at this phase of the competition remains dreadful, and once again, PSV Eindhoven are the underdogs to advance into the round of 16 as they welcome Juventus to Eindhoven.
Peter Bosz will undoubtedly hope to avoid a third defeat to Juventus in this season alone, as he knows only this game counts over the others, which will likely see PSV give their all. The only issue coming into this clash is their overall form, having surrendered the Eredivisie lead to bitter rivals Ajax.
In fact, since beating Feyenoord, PSV have gone six games in the Eredivisie without a win, and now they are under pressure to revive the run. In the UEFA Champions League, they will want to go as far as possible and win their third meeting with Juventus this season in the competition, as this is by far the most important of those games in the context of their season.
Meanwhile, Juventus are hot favourites to go through to the round of 16 following a stellar upturn in the form of late. The Bianconeri had struggled for significant phases this season and only recorded their first four-game winning streak this season under Thiago Motta on Sunday.
The Turin outfit answered a few questions about their league status compared to big rivals with a significant victory over Inter Milan on home soil. A second-half strike from Francisco Conceicao proved enough to keep hold of the Nerazzurri and take all three points.
Their win over PSV Eindhoven was also part of this four-game winning run, as the Bianconeri proved strong on home soil when the Dutch side came visiting. Goals from Weston McKennie and Samuel Mbangula on either side of an Ivan Perisic strike proved enough for Motta’s men to take an advantage into the reverse leg, as Juventus are hot favourites to go through to the next phase of the Champions League.
Team News & Tactics
PSV Eindhoven
PSV will have some notable absentees for this home clash. Ricardo Pepi will play no further part in the remainder of the season, while Malik Tillman, Rick Karsdorp and Olivier Boscagli are also out of contention.
There are some hopeful glances towards Sergino Dest and Boscagli, although neither of those is likely to start even if they fit for this encounter. Hence, Bosz will have to select his best eleven for this clash in the hope of overcoming their first-leg deficit and progressing through it.
The Dutch side’s manager will continue to set up in a 4-3-3 shape, with Ryan Flamingo and Armando Obispo holding the central defensive spots. Richard Ladezma and Mauro Junior are the likely choices in the full-back roles for PSV.
Ismael Saibari will see himself at the base of the midfield three, with Joey Veerman and Jerdy Schouten on either side. Johan Bakayoko will play on the right side of the front three, with veterans Ivan Perisic and Luuk de Jong completing the attacking setup for PSV.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Benitez; Ledezma, flamingo, Obispo, Junior; Veerman, Saibari, Schouten; Bakayoko, De Jong, Perisic
Juventus
Motta might tinker a bit when naming the lineup for this second leg, as he now looks to balance his act ahead of some crucial games. There are no fresh injury concerns following the win over Inter Milan, although he will have Andrea Cambiaso fit and likely to make the starting lineup for this one.
Nicola Savona could be moved to the right-back slot, or Motta could continue with Timothy Weah there following some impressive performances from the American. There will be changes to the lineup despite the winning form Motta’s team are in, as he could shuffle his midfield a bit.
Weston McKennie could be rested on the bench, where he could see Teun Koopmeiners come back into his attacking midfield place. Manuel Locatelli could partner Khephren Thuram in central midfield, while Kenan Yildiz could replace Nico Gonzalez on the left wing.
Randal Kolo Muani will continue to lead the line for Juventus, which will mean another game on the bench for Dusan Vlahovic. Sunday’s match-winner, Conceicao, will surely start on the right side, as Juventus will name a strong lineup to face PSV in this second leg of their Champions League playoffs.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Weah, Gatti, Veiga, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Kolo Muani
Key Stats
- PSV Eindhoven are winless in three games for the first time this season.
- PSV have progressed from three of their 11 European Cup/UEFA Champions League knockout stage ties when losing the first leg – against Hajduk Split in 1975/76, Fenerbahce in 1978/79 and FCSB in 1989/90. On the other hand, Juventus have progressed from their last 20 European Cup/UEFA Champions League knockout stage ties when winning the first leg, including each of their 11 since the 1992 rebrand. Their last defeat was against Rangers in 1978/79 (1-0 home, 0-2 away).
- Juventus are on a four-game winning streak for the first time this season.
- Juventus have beaten PSV Eindhoven twice in this season’s UEFA Champions League. Only five teams have won three games against an opponent in a single campaign in the competition – Ajax vs Milan (1994/95), Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (1999/00), Liverpool vs PSV (2006/07), Manchester United vs AS Roma (2007/08) and Barcelona vs PSG (2014/15).
- PSV Eindhoven are unbeaten in their last 12 home matches in major European competition (W7 D5), including winning each of their last three. They last won four home games in a row in the UEFA Champions League between May and December 2005 (4).
Player to Watch
Francisco Conceicao
Conceicao has been a consistent performer for Juventus, especially when he was not considered the big starter he is today when he signed on loan from FC Porto. The Bianconeri have some prominent names like Nicolas Gonzalez, among others, but the Portuguese winger has now cemented his place in the side.
A match-winning performance against Inter Milan on Sunday will have boosted his confidence further, as he can become the next big performer after Randal Kolo Muani for Thiago Motta’s side. A top display in the second leg will further improve his confidence.
Prediction
PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Juventus
PSV are under pressure to perform following a dismal run that has seen them fall behind in the Eredivisie race. Bosz will be hopeful of turning around the narrow deficit against Juventus, although, given the visitors’ form, it could be yet another disappointing night in Eindhoven.
Thiago Motta is looking to build momentum in his side, who have recorded four wins across all competitions for the first time this season. He will be eager to continue on that run and even add to it, as well as take advantage of Juventus’s superior form against PSV in the three games prior in this campaign alone. The Bianconeri are the favourites to go through and win in Eindhoven with a scoreline similar to the first leg.
