PSV Eindhoven face a tricky trip to face Dinamo Moscow in Russia as they hope to continue their good start to the Europa League group stages.
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PSV got off to a decent start to the group stages two weeks ago when they beat Estoril 1-0 in the Philips Stadion, but they will need to be at their best to come away from Russia with a good result.
Phillip Cocu’s side are still top of the Eredivisie, but they suffered their second defeat of the season against Heerenveen on Sunday. PSV dominated possession against the Frisian’s but lacked inspiration in attack, and eventually fell to a 1-0 defeat.
Striker Luuk de Jong and winger Memphis Depay are both injured for the trip to Moscow, but after missing the match at the weekend midfielder Andres Guardado is back in contention.
Possible PSV XI: Zoet, Brenet, Willems, Rekik, Bruma, Guardado, Maher, Wijnaldum, Narsingh, Jozefzoon, Locadia
Dinamo Moscow also made a winning start to the group stages as they beat Panathinaikos 2-1 in Greece, and the team coached by Stanislav Cherchesov currently sit third in the Russian Premier League.
The Russians have a number of familiar faces, with ex-PSV players Stanislav Manolev and Balsz Dzsudzsak set to face their former team, while Dutchman Alexander Buttner and former Twente defender Douglas should also start. After missing the last two weeks French international Mathieu Vilbuena is back in the squad.
Potential Dinamo Line-up: Gabulov, Monolev, Buttner, Douglas, Granat, Vilbuena, Noboa, Yusupov, Dzsudzsak, Kuranyi, Kokorin
Key Players:
Jurgen Locadia: With Luuk de Jong out Locadia started the loss to Heerenveen back up front after spending some time on the wing at the start of the season, but the striker failed to impress. If PSV are to succeed in Russia then Locadia will need to be more involved in the game and be lethal with any chances that comes his way.
Mathieu Vilbuena: The French international joined the Russian club from Marseille in the summer, but after impressing in his opening six games the midfielder had to have an emergency appendectomy. However Vilbuena will be back for the game against PSV, and he will look to open up the PSV defence with his pace, skill and set piece delivery.
Luciano Narsingh: PSV may have to defend for most of the game on Thursday, and the pace of Luciano Narsingh will be key for Phillip Cocu’s side on the counter attack. The winger has shown glimpses that he is getting back to his best form over the past few weeks, which is crucial in the absence of Memphis Depay
Aleksandr Kokorin: The striker has started the season in great form, netting four times in six appearances and he will cause both Karim Rekik and Jeffrey Bruma a number of problems.
Prediction:
PSV Eindhoven put in a laboured performance against Heerenveen on Sunday, and looked like they lacked ideas without Depay and De Jong up front. The trip to Russia is the toughest tie PSV will face in the group stages, and with the Moscow side in good form and filled with experienced players they may prove just too strong for the Eindhoven side.
Dinamo Moscow 2-0 PSV
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