After missing the previous edition of the Champions League and a year without any European football due to a points deduction, Juventus is back in the competition.
Following a solid season in Serie A, where they finished 3rd behind the Milan clubs, the Bianconeri, now managed by Thiago Motta, have made a strong start to their league campaign.
They remained unbeaten in their first three matches before the international break, securing victories over newly promoted Calcio Como (3-0) and Hellas Verona (3-0). However, they were held to a 0-0 draw against AS Roma on matchday three. Juventus looked to get back to winning ways last weekend against Empoli.
PSV Eindhoven, after winning their 25th Dutch league title, returns to the Champions League for the first time in six years.
Last season, they reached the Round of 16 but were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund, who went on to be the runners-up. PSV’s group includes tough opponents like Juventus, Sporting, PSG, Girona, Shakhtar, Brest, Red Star Belgrade, and Liverpool, making their campaign challenging but not impossible.
In the Eredivisie, PSV has started the season in spectacular fashion, winning all four of their matches convincingly, including a 5-1 victory over Waalwijk and a 7-1 win against Almere City. They are now aiming for a fifth consecutive win as they prepare to face NEC Nijmegen.
Under Thiago Motta, Juventus will be looking to make an impact in this year’s Champions League, but they have some key absences. Striker Milik remains injured, along with Thuram and Weah, while Pogba is suspended due to doping, and Kostic has left for Fenerbahce.
Recent signing Koopmeiners is expected to play a crucial role in the team, alongside Kalulu. Young star Yildiz, who has already provided two assists in Serie A, and Vlahovic, who has scored twice, will be counted on by the fans.
PSV, meanwhile, faces a blow with the potential absence of their captain and top scorer, Luuk de Jong, who left the pitch injured before the international break. His recovery is uncertain, adding to an injury list that already includes Sergino Dest, Fofana, Mauro Junior, Obispo, and Saibari.
Despite these challenges, key players like Bakayoko, Til, and Veerman will be crucial, with Bakayoko recently featuring for Belgium and already impressing in the Eredivisie this season. There’s also uncertainty around Noa Lang, who missed the last game and was left out of the Netherlands squad.
Prediction
Both Juventus and PSV have been involved in high-scoring matches in recent Champions League fixtures.
Juventus has seen both teams score in six of their last eight home games in this competition, while PSV has had similar results in nine of their last 13 away games. This trend is expected to continue in this encounter.
Prediction: Juventus 1 : 3 PSV
