PSV Eindhoven continue their Champions League campaign on Wednesday with a tricky trip to face Wolfsburg in Germany.
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PSV currently sit top of group B on goal difference with all four teams locked on three points after two games. However Phillip Cocu is hoping to see a better away performance from his side after they were defeated 3-2 by CSKA Moscow in the last round of matches.
Speaking during his press conference Cocu told his players they must start better in Germany than they did in Russia , where they were 3-0 down at half time, and stated their was no room for fearing Wolfsburg.
Cocu said, “Fear is no question,”
“If you start to fear a duel, you better stay home. But it is clear that we can definitely afford few mistakes in the Champions League. ”
“If we are not optimal, it is an uphill battle. But against Manchester United we have shown that we can do it, we want to bring that form to Wednesday, too. ”
PSV will definitely have to improve their form from the weekend where they squandered numerous chances in a shock 1-1 draw against Excelsior, which left the Eindhoven club four points off the Eredivisie summit.
Opponents Wolfsburg also suffered a defeat in the last round of the Champions League when Manchester United came from behind to beat the Germans 2-1 at Old Trafford.
Wolfsburg nearly squandered another lead at the weekend when Hoffenheim came from 2-0 down to level the scores, but two late goals ensured Dieter Hecking’s side secured three points. Last years Bundesliga runners up currently sit fourth.
Team news
Cocu will be without Santiago Arias for the trip to Germany after the right back’s red card in Russia, while Maxime Lestienne has also not traveled with the squad. However Luuk de Jong is in line to start after recovering from injury.
Possible PSV line-up: Zoet, Brenet, Poulsen, Bruma, Moreno, Hendrix, Propper, Guardado, Pereiro, Narsingh, De Jong
Wolfsburg will be without the services of defenders Felipe and Robin Knoche due to injury. Dutch striker Bas Dost is likely to start up front after showing good form recently.
Possible Wolfsburg line-up: Benaglio; Träsch, Naldo, Dante, Rodríguez; Gustavo, Guilavogui; Caligiuri, Draxler, Kruse; Dost
Head to Head
Wolfsburg and PSV have never met before but the Dutch side will be looking for their first win in Germany since a 2-1 win over Eintracht Braunschweig in 1977. That victory remains PSV’s only success against a German side away from home in 19 attempts.
Wolfsburg have met Dutch sides on two occasions in the Europa League and remain unbeaten from the ties with Roda JC in 1999 and Heerenveen in 2008.
Key Players
Bas Dost
Wolfsburg’s Dutch striker has proven that last season’s outstanding campaign was absolutely no fluke after netting six goals in nine games. However the former Heerenveen star is still waiting for his first strike in the Champions league and he will be hoping to get the better of fellow Dutch international Jeffrey Bruma on Wednesday.
Luuk de Jong
Just like Wolfsburg, PSV will have an in-form Dutchman leading the line on Wednesday after Luuk de Jong returned from injury on Saturday. De Jong has ten goals in eleven games in all competitions this season and his potency in the box was missed during the defeat in Moscow. If PSV can get the service to De Jong then the striker can punish Wolfsburg’s defence, which has looked shaky at times this season.
no Maher again? i wonder why