PSVvs.Juventus

Following their 2-1 success in Turin, Juve have beaten PSV twice already this season; and another win would take them straight through to the last 16.

Match preview

Despite coming close to claiming a first-leg draw, PSV were ultimately beaten by Juventus for the second time in five months, as an equaliser from Ivan Perisic - who became the club's oldest scorer in either the Champions League or European Cup - proved insufficient to avoid defeat.

Juve substitute Samuel Mbangula struck in the 82nd minute to deny the Dutch champions, who therefore have a one-goal deficit to make up in midweek.

Recent history will not be on their side, as PSV have not won a knockout tie in UEFA's top competition since eliminating Arsenal back in 2007; progressing from just three of 11 after losing the first leg.

However, on home turf they boast a 12-game unbeaten run in Europe, including wins from each of the last three - against Girona, Shakhtar Donetsk and Liverpool.

Peter Bosz has seen his side fail to replicate last season's stellar form on the domestic front, though, and they needed a stoppage-time strike by Isaac Babadi to rescue a point against Utrecht last time out.

Having ceded to spot to old foes Ajax, second-placed PSV have posted only two wins from their last eight Eredivisie fixtures, while making the club's worst start to a calendar year since 1980.

Bosz will hope that, with a place in the Champions League's last 16 on the line, such struggles can be forgotten on Wednesday night, when they welcome Juventus to Philips Stadion for the first time.

Undefeated there since November 2022, PSV last failed to score in a home game over two years ago, so they will expect to push Juve all the way.

After Weston McKennie's blockbuster set them on the path to victory last week, Juventus now head for the Netherlands having drawn each of their last three Champions League away games - another stalemate would now see them through.

The Italian giants kicked off their league-phase campaign with a 3-1 home win over PSV, when McKennie was also on target, but they went on to limp home in 20th position - two points and six places behind their Dutch rivals.

Yet, history suggests Juve can now make it three wins from three, as they have progressed from their last 20 European Cup or Champions League knockout stage ties when winning the first leg - a run which dates back to 1979.

Recently, the revived Bianconeri have risen out of a mid-season malaise that featured just one success in eight games, winning four on the spin over the past few weeks.

Their sole Serie A defeat this term came at the hands of leaders Napoli, albeit Thiago Motta's men have drawn 13 league matches so far - effectively letting 17 points slip - and only sit fourth in the standings.

On Sunday evening, Juventus prevailed in a close-fought Derby d'Italia, with a late Francisco Conceicao strike seeing off Scudetto holders Inter Milan and bringing up three league wins on the spin for the first time in a year.

Juve could meet Inter again in the Champions League's last 16 - Arsenal are their other potential opponents - but first they must finish the job against PSV.

PSV Eindhoven Champions League form:

W

W

L

W

W

L

PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions):

W

D

W

D

L

D

Juventus Champions League form:

D

D

W

D

L

W

Juventus form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

W

W

Team News

PSV are not only unable to call upon Ricardo Pepi, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a serious knee injury, but fellow Americans Sergino Dest and Malik Tillman are also long-term absentees.

Furthermore, full-backs Rick Karsdorp and Olivier Boscagli - the latter of whom has been sidelined since picking up a muscular injury against Liverpool - are unlikely to play either.

Mauro Junior, Richard Ledezma and Manchester United loanee Tyrell Malacia will therefore vie for selection again; meanwhile, top scorer Luuk de Jong leads the line up front.

With main marksman Dusan Vlahovic out of favour, Juve's attack should be led by Randal Kolo Muani. The France forward has scored five goals in as many games since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, becoming the first man to net five in his first three Serie A appearances this century.

Never afraid to tinker - even with a winning team - Thiago Motta may make changes on Wednesday, with Manuel Locatelli, Kenan Yildiz and fit-again full-back Andrea Cambiaso fronting a queue for promotion from the bench.

Bremer, Juan Cabal and Arkadiusz Milik are all out of action for the long term, while Pierre Kalulu is still unavailable and Douglas Luiz continues to struggle with a thigh problem.

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Ledezma, Flamingo, Obispo, Junior; Schouten, Veerman; Bakayoko, Saibari, Perisic; De Jong

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Di Gregorio; Weah, Gatti, Veiga, Cambiaso; Thuram, Locatelli; Gonzalez, McKennie, Yildiz; Kolo Muani

We say: PSV Eindhoven 2-2 Juventus (Juventus win 4-3 on aggregate)

PSV's proud unbeaten streak on home soil may stay intact, but Juventus should still be celebrating at the final whistle.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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