Preview: PSV Eindhoven vs. Bodo/Glimt - prediction, team news, lineups

The teams have been drawn in Group A of this year's tournament, where they will battle with Arsenal and FC Zurich for a place in the knockout stages.

Match preview

PSV Eindhoven suffered a first league defeat of the season as they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by FC Twente at the De Grolsch Veste on Saturday.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's men conceded a first-half brace to Vaclav Cerny before halving the deficit 10 minutes into the second half through Guus Til.

The Rood-Witten have now fallen to fourth place in the Eredivisie table as a result, a point behind AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord and a further two adrift of Ajax.

Coming up next for them is the start of their journey in Europe's secondary club competition having suffered a disappointing defeat to Rangers in the Champions League playoffs.

Off the back of five victories from their last six games on home turf across all competitions, Thursday's hosts will back themselves to get off to a winning start before a daunting encounter against Arsenal on matchday two.

Bodo/Glimt were beaten in the league for the first time in over two months following a 4-1 defeat against Molde at the Aspmyra Stadion on Saturday.

Two goals from Markus Kaasa either side of Emil Breivik's strike left Kjetil Knutsen's men 3-1 down midway through the second half after which Ola Brynhildsen put the game to bed six minutes from time.

As a result, Den Gule Horde are a whopping 10 points behind the aforementioned Molde in the Eliteserien table with just nine games left to play.

With their domestic season now looking set to end with no silverware, Thursday's visitors now seek to kick off their continental campaign on a high.

PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions):

Bodo/Glimt form (all competitions):

Team News

Yorbe Vertessen remains sidelined for PSV Eindhoven due to a muscle injury, and the Belgian is not expected to play any part in this one.

Marco van Ginkel and Noni Madueke are also unavailable due to hamstring and ankle injuries respectively, while Mauro Junior is yet to fully recover from a groin problem.

Twenty-seven-year-old Anwar El-Ghazi will be pushing for a place in the starting XI here having made his debut for the home side off the bench last time out.

Midfielder Amahl Pellegrino is a doubt for Bodo/Glimt having come off with a first-half injury in his side's defeat to Molde over the weekend.

Should Pellegrino be deemed unfit to participate in Thursday's contest, Albert Gronbaek is the favourite to fill in for his Norwegian teammate.

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Max, Obispo, Ramalho, Teze; Gutierrez, Veerman, Sangare; Gakpo, Simons, El-Ghazi

Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:

Haikin; Sampsted, Amundsen, Hoibraaten, Wembangomo; Vetlesen, Berg, Saltnes; Gronbaek, Salvesen, Mugisha

We say: PSV Eindhoven 2-1 Bodo/Glimt

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