Champions League Clash: Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven Preview

Juventus will host PSV Eindhoven in their much-anticipated return to the Champions League, with the match scheduled to kick off at 6:45 PM on Tuesday. The Italian side is looking to secure a narrow victory over their Dutch opponents, with predictions suggesting a possible 1-0 outcome in favor of Juventus.

Over the summer, Juventus made significant changes by appointing Thiago Motta as their new manager and investing around £150 million in player acquisitions. This fresh approach marks a departure from their previous style under Massimiliano Allegri. Juventus have shown promise with their possession-based play, remaining unbeaten in their first four matches in Serie A. Despite drawing their last two games, their ability to control games could be beneficial in their European campaign.

On the other hand, PSV Eindhoven has had a flawless start to their domestic season. Their recent 2-0 win over NAC Breda marks five consecutive victories, leaving them two points clear of AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie. However, the challenge of European competition is a different scenario for PSV. Last season, they were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16, and they now aim to advance further this time.

The anticipated lineup for Juventus features Perin, Kaluli, Gatti, Bremer, Cambiaso, Locatelli, Luiz, Koopmeiners, Gonzalez, Yildiz, and Vlahović. Meanwhile, PSV’s expected lineup includes Benitez, Ledezma, Flamingo, Boscagli, Dams, Til, Schouten, Veerman, Bakayoko, Driouech, and De Jong.

Juventus supporters have reasons to be optimistic in the early stages of the season despite a few challenges. They have lost only one home game since last year, scoring an average of 1.21 more goals per match than they have conceded. As the fans anticipate more exciting football, meticulous efforts are being made to balance attacking flair and defensive solidity.

Conversely, PSV Eindhoven struggled with their away form in last season’s Champions League, earning only two wins in six away matches and conceding an average of two goals per game. In this clash, Juventus is favored to emerge victorious with odds of 1.82.

Forward Dušan Vlahović remains a key player for Juventus. Although the team has lately faced difficulties in creating chances, Vlahović continues to be a goal threat. He has scored two goals in four matches this season, and his ability to frequently shoot places him in the top 4% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues. Odds for Vlahović to score at any time during the match are set at 2.20.

Thiago Motta’s Juventus has yet to concede a goal in Serie A, suggesting a strong defense for the upcoming match. Juventus has allowed the fewest shots in the league, maintaining an average opponent shot count of 5.67 per game. With an impressive defensive record, they are expected to keep a clean sheet against PSV, whose striker performance in past European away games has been inconsistent. The odds of PSV scoring under 0.5 goals are offered at 2.72.