Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Champions League clash between PSV Eindhoven and Sporting Lisbon, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
The champions of Holland and Portugal meet in the Champions League on Tuesday, when PSV Eindhoven host Sporting Lisbon at the Philips Stadion.
Both clubs have won all seven of their opening domestic fixtures, but there were differing fortunes for the two on matchday one of this competition.
Match preview
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PSV failed to win their opening European fixture of a season for the fifth year running as they fell to a 3-1 defeat away to Juventus two weeks ago, in a game where Peter Bosz‘s men were completely outclassed.
The hosts can remain positive though, as they have still progressed in three of the last four years despite an opening day loss, and they now face a side who they beat 3-2 here in the Europa League group stages five years ago.
PSV will be glad this fixture is on home soil because the reverse fixture in that campaign saw them lose 4-0, and they have also not lost at home to a Portuguese club in the 21st century.
Over the past two seasons on the continent, PSV are unbeaten at home, making the Philips Stadion something of a fortress, but domestically, Bosz’s side look imperious at any venue they visit.
A 2-0 win away to Willem II at the weekend extended PSV’s 100% start to the Eredivisie, sitting top with seven wins from seven.
Sporting have a record that can better that though, as Ruben Amorim has overseen eight wins from eight for his side, including a matchday one win over Lille.
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Viktor Gyokeres opened his Champions League account, before Zeno Debast scored the goal of the round to seal the win in the second half against ten-man Les Dogues.
In a near-perfect start, Sporting have scored 27 and conceded just twice so far, keeping a clean sheet in their last six outings.
Since returning from the international break midway through September, Sporting have won all three league games 3-0, including a victory away to Estoril at the weekend.
That will make them very confident of securing their passage into the knockout stage of this competition, with nine points the estimated target to finish in the top 24 of the league phase.
Already on three, back-to-back away games against PSV first, then at Sturm Graz can be targeted for two more wins, before Sporting welcome English giants Manchester City and Arsenal to the Jose Alvalade in November, in two much trickier encounters on paper.
PSV Eindhoven Champions League form:
PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions):
Sporting Lisbon Champions League form:
Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):
Team News
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Despite the opposition, and a Champions League fixture on the horizon, Bosz picked a strong PSV side for the trip to Willem II on Saturday.
Only Luuk de Jong and Johan Bakayoko were rested from the side that is expected to feature here, but those changes allowed Ivan Perisic to make his debut after joining on a free transfer.
Noa Lang and right-back duo Rick Karsdorp and Mauro Junior are all being eased back into the side by Bosz, and it will almost be a toss up to see who will start on the right-hand side of defence.
Sergino Dest is unlikely to be ready for this one, while Hirving Lozano and Fredrik Oppegard are also doubts ahead of the visit of Sporting.
The visitors will be sweating over the fitness of both Pedro Goncalves and Marcus Edwards, as the two influential players have missed the last few weeks with respective injuries.
Jerry St Juste is confirmed to be out in defence, while Diogo Pinto is also a doubt along with the aforementioned Goncalves and Edwards.
Like Bosz, Amorim also went strong at the weekend for their short trip to Estoril, but Gyokeres was unable to add to his exceptional tally of 14 goals in 10 games for club and country so far, but after scoring on his competition debut two weeks ago, the Swedish forward will be hoping to notch another here.
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Mauro Junior, Flamingo, Boscagli, Dams; Schouten, Til, Veerman; Bakayoko, De Jong, Tillman
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Israel; Debast, Goncalo Inacio, Diomande; Quenda, Morita, Hjulmand, Nuno Santos; Trincao, Gyokeres, Geny Catamo
We say: PSV Eindhoven 2-2 Sporting Lisbon
Two dominant sides domestically meet here in a very close encounter that is hard to call, but with great attacking quality on both sides, it is likely to produce goals.
PSV need a result, ideally a win, after their opening defeat, but Sporting are many people’s dark horse for this season’s competition, and will provide a stern challenge.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.