PSV Eindhoven and FC Basel played a five-goal thriller in their first leg Champions League second round qualifying match. Will the two sides duplicate their thrilling first leg on Tuesday night?
FC Basel will welcome PSV Eindhoven to St. Jakob Park for the second leg. One of the two clubs will go through to the Champions League third qualifying round while the other will be dumped into the Europa League qualifying rounds.
The two-legged series is on a knife’s edge due to the number of goals scored in the first leg. PSV Eindhoven may have scored three times at the Philips Stadion, but they allowed FC Basel to score two vital away goals.
FC Basel manager Marcel Koller will be furious with his team for letting PSV Eindhoven come from behind to win the fixture. After conceding an early goal, FC Basel scored twice through Albian Ajeti and Omar Alderete to take a 2-1 lead.
PSV Eindhoven’s Sam Lammers then found the back of the net in the 89th minute. His goal was followed by a 90th minute strike by Donyell Malen to give PSV Eindhoven the victory.
Koller should feel confident that his team can go toe to toe with PSV Eindhoven. The Dutchside were second best for parts of the first leg before they finally got two late goals to overtake the Swiss side.
Unlike PSV Eindhoven, FC Basel have already kicked off their domestic season in Switzerland. The Swiss club won their season opener against FC Sion, but lost at the weekend to St. Gallen at home, 2-1.
It was a major setback with their big Champions League second qualifying round match coming up on Tuesday.
PSV Eindhoven competed in the Dutch Super Cup over the weekend losing to rivals Ajax, 2-0. Manager Mark van Bommel’s side were not their usual self especially playing against their biggest rivals.
Van Bommel played a strong squad but didn’t start Mexican international Hirving Lozano, one of the best players at his disposal. Lozano came on as a second-half substitute. PSV Eindhoven only managed five shots against Ajax with just one on target.
Our new bus is also here! 🥰Later today: press conference & final training. #BASPSV #UCL pic.twitter.com/RPwHPXJFE7— PSV (@PSV) July 29, 2019
Our new bus is also here! 🥰Later today: press conference & final training. #BASPSV #UCL pic.twitter.com/RPwHPXJFE7
It is safe to say, PSV Eindhoven had their eyes on the Champions League second qualifying round second leg match against FC Basel.
Tuesday night’s fixture between FC Basel and PSV Eindhoven will be an exciting affair between two sides desperate to qualify for the Champions League proper. Can FC Basel overturn their one-goal deficit or will PSV Eindhoven hold on for the victory?