The Bianconeri will be seeking to make it an unprecedented five wins on the bounce under head coach Thiago Motta, who has orchestrated a remarkable comeback after a recent patchy spell.
Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands
Venue: Philips Stadion, Eindhoven
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT, 21:00 CET, 12:00 PST, 15:00 EST
TV/Streaming: UK – TNT Sports, US – Paramount+
Recent form
Juventus racked up an impressive 1-0 victory over Inter Milan since they beat PSV Eindhoven last week.
Weston McKennie and substitute Samuel Mbangula scored, while in-form Kolo Muani was double man-marked out of the tie and neutralised. The return leg is set to be tight and a mouthwatering match for the neutral.
Juve are purring after stunning visitors Inter in their hard-fought Derby D’Italia tussle, and Motta rested a handful of key players.
Juve will be expecting to waltz into the last 16, not only because of their fine form and their opponents struggling, but also due to PSV’s poor record on the European stage. PSV last won a Champions League knockout match when they beat Arsenal in 2007.
Yet PSV boast a 12-match unbeaten home record in Europe, having reeled off three victories on the bounce, and their Philips Stadion (aka PSV Stadion) can be intimidating for opponents.
PSV are on a three-game streak without victory, which has left manager Peter Bosz under pressure to revive their season. European competition is the chance to buck their downward spiral, and Juve must not over confident as PSV's home record is outstanding.
Head-to-head
This is the third Champions League meeting between these teams this season, with the Bianconeri kicking off their European campaign with a 3-1 victory in September and repeating their success last week..
With PSV as underdogs, they will need to dramatically up the ante if they want to progress in Europe. This seems to be mission impossible against a rejuvenated Juve side, who are ever-improving in all departments.
The Bianconeri’s defensive backline kept their first clean sheet since last month’s dull scoreless draw against Club Brugge in Belgium. Juventus are now brimming with confidence, and with the skilful Muani in their ranks have a player who has the potential to both produce goals and set them up
Team news
Center-back Pierre Kalulu remains sidelined with a muscular injury he sustained against Benfica in the Champions League, with Juve newcomer Renato Veiga brilliantly deputised in the vacant role.
Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal and Arkadiusz Milik are long-term absentees for Motta, while Douglas Luiz (muscle fatigue) is doubtful.
Full-back Andrea Cambiaso returns to the squad from an ankle injury, with Timothy Weah impressing in recent outings at right-back.
Teun Koopmeiners or Weston McKennie could take on the role of an attacking midfielder, leaving Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram to guard the central midfield.
Turkish teenager Kenan Yildiz had a howler against Inter, but could get the nod over Nicolas Gonzalez on the left wing and sit behind Muani. The French international should spearhead the attack, with Francisco Conceicao on the right flank.
Exiled Dusan Vlahovic, whose Champions League form was impressive last year, is likely to warm the bench but may get some second-half minutes rather than be subjected to an unused substitute for the third game on the spin.
Players to watch
PSV - Ivan Perisic
The veteran winger, who won the 2019/20 Champions League when on loan with Bayern Munich, has already scored five goals against the Bianconeri.
He bagged four goals while at Inter, and found the back of the net last week for PSV, so should prove to be a major threat for Juve.
Juventus - Kolo Muani
He is enjoying a new lease of life since arriving last month on a short-term loan from Paris Saint-Germain. The recent upturn in fortunes for Juve has coincided with Muani’s contribution in front of goal. He was originally brought in to either rotate the striker role with Vlahovic, or play on the wing.
Muani’s exploits means he is the first-choice forward, but he could prove ineffective if man-marked out of the contest by PSV like last week. That would mean Mbangula or Vlahovic could replace him during the second half.
Expected line-ups
PSV possible starting XI:
Benitez; Ledezma, Odispo, Boscagli, Mauro Junior; Saibari, Schouten, Veerman; Perisic, De Jong, Lang
Juventus possible starting XI:
Di Gregorio; Cambiaso, Gatti, Veiga, Weah; Thuram, Locatelli, McKennie; Yildiz, Conceicao; Muani
Prediction
Juventus will be aiming to emulate Bayern Munich (1999/2000 vs. Real Madrid), and Manchester United (2007/08 vs. AS Roma), by registering three victories over the same team in a single Champions League season.
There seems no stopping the Bianconeri. Since the side was booed off at home against Benfica, following a toothless display, Motta has transformed the team and they will tackle PSV full of confidence of reaching the last 16.
PSV tend to score goals, especially at home, yet rarely keep a clean sheet. This could be a real ding-dong battle with a flurry of goals.