Juventus will begin their UEFA Champions League campaign with a home fixture against Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night.
After a one-year absence, Juventus is making a highly anticipated return to the Champions League. They will be looking to kick off their campaign with a strong performance and secure all three points against PSV Eindhoven, who will be aiming to pull off an upset on matchday one.
The UEFA Champions League is entering a new era with its revamped format. This season, teams will compete in a league phase where all 36 clubs face eight different opponents, and rankings will be determined across the board.
Juventus started the Serie A season in impressive fashion with back-to-back wins but have stumbled in their recent matches. They will be keen to avoid further slipups and aim for a top-eight finish in the league phase to ensure a strong position.
On the other hand, PSV Eindhoven has enjoyed a stellar start to their campaign, winning all five of their league games. Heading into this fixture against Juventus, they are brimming with confidence. While their primary goal is to progress to the knockout stages by finishing in the top 24, PSV will be ambitious and seek a higher finish to ease their path forward.
The Hard Tackle delves deeper into both teams’ strategies and predicts the tactics they might employ in this exciting Champions League clash.
Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Thiago Motta’s team has received a significant boost with the return of Khephren Thuram and Timothy Weah. However, the Old Lady may be without Francisco Conceicao due to a calf injury.
For the match, the home team will set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Michele Di Gregorio will start in goal, with Pierre Kalulu and Juan Cabal as the full-backs. Federico Gatti and Gleison Bremer will form the central defensive partnership.
In midfield, Manuel Locatelli and Nicolò Fagioli will work together to provide defensive cover and create a strong foundation for attacking play. Andrea Cambiaso and Kenan Yıldız will offer width on the flanks, while Teun Koopmeiners will operate as the No. 10, serving as the main playmaker for star striker Dušan Vlahovic.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti, Bremer, Cabal; Locatelli, Fagioli; Cambiaso, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic
PSV Eindhoven
PSV Eindhoven will be missing key players for their match against Juventus. Noa Lang, Rick Karsdorp, Sergino Dest, and Armando Obispo are all sidelined, and Hirving Lozano is also a major doubt. However, PSV will benefit from the return of Luuk de Jong, who scored in their last outing.
For this fixture, PSV are likely to field an unchanged starting XI. Walter Daniel Benitez will be in goal, with Richard Ledezma and Matteo Dams as the full-backs. Ryan Flamingo and Olivier Boscagli will form the central defensive partnership.
In midfield, Guus Til, Jerdy Schouten, and Joey Veerman will look to control the game and prevent Juventus from dominating possession. On the flanks, Johan Bakayoko and Malik Tillman will provide width and support to the attack. Luuk de Jong will lead the PSV Eindhoven attack as they take on Juventus.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Benitez; Ledezma, Flamingo, Boscagli, Dams; Til, Schouten, Veerman; Bakayoko, De Jong, Tillman
Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven Key Stats:
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- PSV Eindhoven: Perfect start to the season with five consecutive league wins.
- Juventus: Unbeaten in the league but held to draws in their last two matches.
- Juventus’ UEFA Champions League History: The two-time champions missed out on the competition last season, ending an 11-year streak.
- PSV Eindhoven: Advanced to the Round of 16 in their last Champions League campaign and aim to build on that performance.
- Juventus: Set to make a record 24th appearance in the Champions League, surpassing rivals AC Milan by three appearances.
Player to Watch
Dusan Vlahovic
The 24-year-old Serbian striker has made a strong impression at the start of the new season, scoring twice in his first four matches. Dusan Vlahovic will aim to continue his scoring form when Juventus faces PSV in their opening UEFA Champions League fixture. His contribution will be crucial as Juventus looks to make a positive impact in their first European outing of the season.
Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven Prediction
Juventus 2-0 PSV Eindhoven
PSV Eindhoven have had a fantastic start to the new season, winning all five of their opening league games. However, they could face a tough challenge against Italian giants Juventus. Despite Juventus drawing their last two league matches, they will be confident of securing a favorable result against PSV, especially at home.
With their strong defensive setup and home advantage, Juventus are expected to control the game. **The Hard Tackle** predicts a comfortable 2-0 victory for the Italian side as they look to assert dominance in this UEFA Champions League clash.
How to Watch
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