PSV Eindhoven travel to face Ludogorets in Bulgaria looking to overturn their recent poor form in the Eredivisie.
- By Michael Bell
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In the last round of matches, PSV Eindhoven saw off Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 to put them in touching distance of the next round. However this is the only win for Phillip Cocu’s side in their last eight games.
Saturday’s disappointing draw with 10-man Heerenveen on Saturday was the latest poor result for the Eindhoven side, and it has heaped the pressure on Cocu. His side now travel to the freezing Razgrad to face group leaders Ludogorets, who beat PSV 2-0 in the Philips Stadion back in September.
The Bulgarian’s have not lost so far in the Europa League this season, and have only lost one of their last 19 games in all competitions. Currently sitting top of the Bulgarian league, Ludogorets are racing to their third league championship in a row, with a six point gap over Lovech in 2nd after 18 games.
PSV travel to Bulgaria without Georginio Wijnaldum, out with a long term back injury, while Tim Matavz, Park ji Sung, and Jetro Willems are also missing.
Youngster Rai Vloet is included, after impressing with the reserve side, while experienced right back Stannislav Manolev also makes the 21 man squad.
Potential line ups:
PSV- Zoet, Arias, Tamata, Bruma, Rekik, Schaars, Maher, Toivonen, Depay, Narsingh, Locadia
Ludogorets- Stoyanov, Moti, Minev, Barthe, Caicara, Zlatinski, Aleksandrov, Espinho, Quixada, Marcelinho, Misidjan
PSV are currently three points behind Ludogorets in Group B, while they sit three in front of Chornomorets, who travel to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb.
A win in Bulgaria will all but seal PSV’s progress to the knockout stages, but a draw would be enough, if Dinamo Zagreb win in the groups other tie.
Ludogoret’s form will be intimidating for Cocu’s out of form and young side, but three points will provide a massive boost going into the weekends game with Feyenoord.
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