PSV Eindhoven v Spurs – Champions League Preview

Spurs travel to the Netherlands to face PSV Eindhoven in a huge game on Wednesday as both teams aim to ensure that their Champions League campaign does not end early. Both sides have lost their opening two games to Barcelona and Inter Milan, so will know the group stage double-header could decide their fate.

Spurs are on a high after beating West Ham on Saturday, their fourth league win on the bounce, and are just two points off the top of the Premier League. However it is a different story in the Champions League as they are only ahead of PSV on goal difference, with both sides still yet to pick up a point.

Mauricio Pochettino and his players will know that this is a must win match if Spurs want to get to the Champions League knockout rounds. Defeat on Wednesday would all but seal Spurs’ fate and would even make it difficult for them to finish third in the group, which would secure them passage to the Europa League.

PSV have made a flawless start to their Eredivisie campaign under the stewardship of Mark van Bommel. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich player took charge of the side he spent 6 years at as a player in the summer and already looks like he will lead them to their 4^th league title in 5 years.

🇳🇱 Eredivisie Team of the Week — @PSV geared up for their midweek welcome of Tottenham with a resounding 6-0 win over FC Emmen, with Hirving Lozano the ⭐️ man, helping himself to a perfect 🔟https://t.co/8tcUCizuqB pic.twitter.com/L1sTQsQIRR

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 22, 2018

In the Champions League, almost identically to Spurs, PSV Eindhoven were helpless to the powers of Lionel Messi and Barcelona at Camp Nou but frustratingly let a lead slip in their most recent game against Inter Milan by losing 2-1. Although they were not expected to finish in the top two of the group, the Dutch side will be eager to take third spot in the group and enter the Europa League knockout stage.

Despite scoring just once in Europe this season, PSV Eindhoven have scored 36 league goals in their 9 games. There will surely be an electric atmosphere at The Philips Stadion as 35,000 passionate Dutch fans dream of a European upset.

PSV v Spurs Team News

Christian Eriksen is expected to start on Wednesday after returning to Spurs action as a substitute against West Ham at the weekend. Dele Alli, Danny Rose and Victor Wanyama are closing in on a return but will not be ready for the match against PSV Eindhoven whereas Jan Vertonghen is still a long term absentee for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

New Zealand international Ryan Thomas is out with a long term injury for PSV Eindhoven but other than that, Mark van Bommel has a full strength side to choose from. Key player Hirving Lozano and Dutch internationals Jorrit Hendrix, Luuk de Jong and Steven Bergwijn are all expected to start.

PSV v Spurs Predicted Line-up

Hugo Lloris has showed recently why he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world with a match winning performance against West Ham. Spurs may need a similar performance from him against a PSV team that cannot stop scoring domestically.

Serge Aurier may start on Wednesday, with fullbacks being a position Mauricio Pochettino likes to frequently rotate. However the other three defenders in the team will stay the same from the weekend because of injuries to Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose.

Mousa Dembele could also come back into the starting eleven at the expense of either Harry Winks or Eric Dier, with both English midfielders featuring heavily in the last few weeks for club and country.

Erik Lamela may be moved out wide to accommodate for Eriksen, despite the Argentine’s impressive performances in a central role in his last few appearances for Spurs. Heung-min Son is also likely to start for Spurs as he was an unused substitute against West Ham, with Lucas Moura making way for the South Korea captain.

One to watch: Hirving Lozano

🔹 Player of the Weekend? 🔹

🌠 @mterstegen1: 2 amazing double-saves
🌠 @lewy_official: 2 goals, 1 assist
🌠 @HirvingLozano70: 1 goal, 2 assists
🌠 @AnthonyMartial: 2 goals pic.twitter.com/ctT8mO7Oli

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 22, 2018

PSV Eindhoven’s key player is Hirving Lozano, who has long been linked with a move to the Premier League and to Spurs even before his move to PSV Eindhoven from Mexican team Pachuca. The Mexican international impressed at the World Cup in Russia and has started the season in blistering form with 8 goals and 3 assists in just 9 Eredivisie games.

Capable of playing on either wing, Lozano possess pace and trickery and will cause problems for the Spurs defence if given the freedom to play.

PSV v Spurs: What the Manager’s said

PSV Head Coach Mark van Bommel

“He’s doing really well, it’s not normal to be so long at a top club. He’s doing a really good job. He did a good job at Southampton before. I admire him, to be able to stay with Spurs at the top in England for many years is a great achievement. You can see the Spurs team under Pochettino has a signature, when they come back from their national teams to Spurs they play with Pochettino’s signature. He gives the players all they need to play.”

“Inter, Barcelona and Tottenham are almost equal, there are no big differences. Spurs have a lot of quality players and weapons to win games but we have that also. I don’t expect a high scoring game.”

On Harry Kane:

“That’s part of bring a striker, if you don’t score you are concerned but if the team is playing well the goals will come. They have a lot of quality, if you are such a quality player it is only a matter of time before he will start scoring again.”

“If we only concentrate on Harry it will be difficult to have an eye on the others, they have quality players not only up front but in midfield and with Trippier providing the crosses.” (football.london)

PSV v Spurs Referee

Slovenian Slavko Vinčić will take charge of the game at The Philips Stadion. He was the referee for Manchester United’s group stage game against Valencia, in which he handed out seven yellow cards.

PSV v Spurs Predicted Score

PSV Eindhoven are evidently a dangerous attacking threat, which they have showed domestically so far this season. They also have a very talented squad, which contains multiple internationals. However the Champions League is a completely different prospect and although they will have home advantage, Spurs should still expect to come out on top.

Our prediction is PSV Eindhoven 1-3 Spurs.