Match Center

PSV vs Juventus | Preview & Expected Lineup

Published

8 months ago

February 18, 2025

D.Z

Juventus make the trip to the Netherlands holding a narrow 2-1 lead over PSV Eindhoven as they prepare for the decisive second leg of their Champions League knockout round play-off on Wednesday evening. The Italian giants will be looking to maintain their advantage and secure progression, while PSV will be aiming for a comeback in front of their home crowd.

Ahead of this high-stakes encounter, here are five key stats and insights to consider:

First leg advantage | A historic edge for Bianconeri before PSV vs Juventus

Juventus have an impeccable record when it comes to defending first-leg victories in the Champions League. They have successfully advanced in their last 20 two-legged ties in European competition after winning the opening leg. Since the Champions League rebrand in 1992, they have triumphed in all 11 such instances. The last time they failed to progress after winning the first leg was way back in the 1978-79 season, when they defeated Rangers 1-0 at home but fell 2-0 in the return fixture in Scotland.

Three’s a charm | A rare feat in the Champions League

Juventus have already defeated PSV twice in this season’s Champions League, and should they win again, they would join an elite group of teams to claim three victories over the same opponent in a single edition of the competition. This has only been achieved five times in history—most notably by Ajax against AC Milan in 1994-95 and Barcelona against PSG in 2014-15. A third consecutive win over PSV would further underline Juventus’ dominance in this fixture.

Home fortress | PSV’s unbeaten streak at Philips Stadium

PSV Eindhoven have turned their home ground into a fortress in recent European campaigns. They are currently unbeaten in their last 12 home matches in major European competitions, recording seven wins and five draws. Even more impressively, they have won their last three Champions League home games. The last time they managed four consecutive home wins in the tournament was between May and December 2005. With a raucous home crowd behind them, PSV will be confident in their ability to turn the tie around.

Pass master | Locatelli’s creative influence before PSV vs Juventus

Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli has been a pivotal figure in the team’s build-up play, with a remarkable 21% of his passes classified as line-breaking—more than any other player in this season’s Champions League (minimum 500 minutes played).

Locatelli is one of only three midfielders to have completed over 100 line-breaking passes in the tournament, alongside Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich and Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller. His vision and distribution will be key to unlocking PSV’s defense.

Dribbling duo | Conceicao & Yildiz joins Juventus history

This season has witnessed a remarkable dribbling display from Juventus’ rising stars Francisco Conceicao (23 successful dribbles) and Kenan Yildiz (20 successful dribbles). This marks the first time since the 2014-15 season that two Juventus players have managed at least 20 successful dribbles in the same Champions League campaign. The last duo to achieve this feat were Carlos Tevez (29) and Alvaro Morata (20), both of whom played crucial roles in Juventus’ run to the final that season.

With both teams bringing strong narratives into this contest, the stage is set for an electrifying second leg. Will Juventus continue their European dominance, or can PSV break their resistance and complete a stunning comeback? All eyes will be on the Philips Stadion for what promises to be a thrilling encounter.

As for Sky Sport Italia, the Motta’s expected lineup XI starting for PSV vs Juventus are ⬇️