Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven

Juventus and PSV Eindhoven are set to square off at the Allianz Stadium in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie.

Despite only winning three league-phase outings, Juventus have secured a playoff berth, albeit as an unseeded team. Thiago Motta’s men head into proceedings in high spirits after winter signing Randal Kolo Muani inspired them to back-to-back Serie A wins, netting a brace in each victory. In doing so, the Frenchman became the first player in a three-points-per-win era in Italy’s top flight to score five goals in their first three appearances. Kolo Muani’s scoring exploits could be crucial as ‘I Bianconeri’ bid to end a two-game scoring drought in the Champions League (D1, L1). Moreover, Motta’s charges alternated between winning (2) and losing (2) in their four league-phase games in Turin and could lose three home games in a single Champions League campaign for the first time in the club’s history. 

Meanwhile, PSV Eindhoven already visited the Allianz Stadium this season, only to succumb to a 3-1 defeat in September. However, consecutive 3-2 wins against Liverpool and Red Star Belgrade toward the end of the league phase saw the Peasants accumulate more points than their hosts (W4, D2, L2). Through to the knockout stages of a major European competition for the second season on the trot for the first time since 2006/06, Peter Bosz’s side can take heart from an ongoing six-game unbeaten streak (W4, D2), even though they shared the spoils with Eredivisie minnows Willem II at the weekend (1-1). Worryingly, they’ve stuttered on the road lately, claiming just one win across their last five away matches (D1, L3).