Juventus took a crucial step towards the Champions League Round of 16 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their knockout playoff at the Allianz Stadium.
A standout performance from Federico Gatti helped secure the win, while Mbangula’s late goal ensured Thiago Motta’s men take a slim advantage into the return leg.
Match Summary
Juventus came into the game looking to extend their recent winning streak, and they started with intent. Weston McKennie opened the scoring with a stunning long range effort, putting the Bianconeri ahead in the first half.
However, PSV responded through Ivan Perisic, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to level the score.
Just when it seemed the match would end in a draw, Juventus found their winner through Belgian youngster Samuel Mbangula, who made the most of Conceiçao’s brilliant run down the right flank to slot home in the closing stages.
Player Ratings: Juventus
Di Gregorio – 5.5: Beaten at the near post for Perisic’s goal and looked hesitant when coming off his line.
Weah – 6: Showed attacking intent and gradually grew in defensive confidence.
Gatti – 7.5 (MOTM): Exceptional in defense and instrumental in Juventus’ opening goal.
Veiga – 7: Provided energy and aggression, winning key duels.
Kelly – 4.5: Struggled in physical battles and failed to track Perisic for PSV’s equalizer.
Locatelli – 5.5: Poor passing accuracy but solid in ground duels. (Substituted for Thuram – 6)
Douglas Luiz – 6.5: Controlled midfield with a 94% pass accuracy.
Nico Gonzalez – 5: Ineffective on the ball with no key contributions. (Substituted for Conceiçao – 7, who played a crucial role in the winning goal.)
McKennie – 7: Scored a brilliant goal and covered significant ground. (Substituted for Koopmeiners – 5.5)
Yildiz – 5.5: Had a quiet first half before being replaced. (Substituted for Mbangula – 6.5, who scored the winner.)
Kolo Muani – 5.5: Struggled against PSV’s defensive setup. (Substituted for Vlahovic – 6)
Coach: Thiago Motta – 6 Guided Juventus to a much-needed victory, marking their third consecutive win in all competitions. However, defensive frailties remain a concern.
Player Ratings: PSV Eindhoven
Benitez – 6
Ledezma – 5, Flamingo – 6, Obispo – 6, Mauro Junior – 5.5
Saibari – 5 (72’ Til – 5.5), Schouten – 5.5, Veerman – 6.5
Perisic – 7, L. De Jong – 6, Lang – 6 (72’ Bakayoko – 6)
Coach: Peter Bosz – 5.5 Failed to neutralize Juventus’ late push and will need adjustments for the return leg.
Juventus will take their 2-1 advantage to Eindhoven, where PSV will aim to overturn the deficit. With the tie still hanging in the balance, the second leg promises to be a thrilling encounter.
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