Widely tipped to be group stage casualties, PSV Eindhoven are still alive and getting ready to host a UEFA Champions League knockout stage game for the first time in nearly a decade.
The Dutch leaders are flying high in the Eredivisie, but will be without their top scorer for the visit of Atletico Madrid. Can the team from the Spanish capital capitalize and take an advantage back to Madrid?
Read on below for our comprehensive preview of this first leg matchup. Also, don’t forget to check out Wednesday’s other Champions League action with our preview of Dynamo Kiev vs. Manchester City.
PSV caused a major shock after they beat out English giants Manchester United for the second qualifying spot in Group B. The Dutch actually went undefeated against United in their two group games, and beat them 2-1 at home.
They’ll be out to get another big shock when they face former finalists Atletico Madrid. PSV are +350 underdogs to win the tie over two legs.
However, PSV will have to navigate the first leg with a significant absentee as leading scorer Luuk de Jong (21 goals in all competitions) will be suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. de Jong has scored two of the team’s eight Champions League goals, and his loss will be a big blow to a PSV attack that’ll be up against a very stingy Atletico defense.
Nevertheless, PSV’s confidence should be sky high heading into the first leg. They have gone on a very impressive eight-game winning streak in the Eredivisie, and have kept three consecutive clean sheets.
Meanwhile, they also sport a very formidable home field advantage. PSV are still undefeated (nine wins, two draws) in 11 games at home in the league, and they also beat all three of their opponents at the Philips Arena in the group stage.
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Betting on Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid’s road to the Round of 16 was pretty straightforward. They won four of their six group games (4-1-1) with 11 goals scored and just three conceded to go three points clear in Group C.
The Rojiblancos have been wildly successful in the Champions League under the guidance of manager Diego Simeone. After going all the way to the final in 2014, they went out 1-0 in aggregate in a very close quarterfinal matchup against rivals Real Madrid last year.
That loss was only one of two that Atleti have suffered in 14 away Champions League games under Simeone (8-4-2).
Simeone has built his success at Atletico through terrific defense. They’ve conceded just 11 goals in 25 La Liga matches this season – including just five away from home – which is far and away the best defensive mark in the Spanish top flight. That terrific Atletico defense will be even tougher to break down with PSV’s top attacking force out suspended.
Meanwhile, the brilliance of Antoine Griezmann has carried the Atletico attack this season, and has the quality needed to give the Spaniards the key advantage. The Frenchman is the team’s leading scorer with four goals in six Champions League games.
Writer’s Prediction
Atletico (-134) get a crucial away goal in a 1-0 first leg win.
