PSV Eindhoven’s season officially gets underway on Tuesday with PSV Eindhoven hosting Basel in the first leg of their Champions League second round qualifier.
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After finishing second in the Eredivisie last season, PSV Eindhoven face a difficult task to reach the Champions League group stages for the second year in a row.
Mark van Bommel’s side enter in the 2nd qualifying round and will take on Swiss side FC Basel, who have also been a regular in Europe’s biggest competition over the past few years.
PSV have lost influential captain and top scorer Luuk de Jong this summer, along with left-back Angelino and centre-back Daniel Schwaab. However, Steven Bergwijn and Hirving Lozano are still in Eindhoven despite plenty of interest from abroad, while Toni Lato, Olivier Boscagli, Ibrahim Afellay and Portuguese winger Bruma have all been added to the squad.
Pre-season has been a mixed bag for van Bommel and the recent 2-0 defeat at home to Wolfsburg would have been a worry coming into this clash with FC Basel.
The Swiss side finished second to Young Boys last season and have had plenty of issues of the pitch. However, they began their league campaign with a simple 4-1 win over Sion at the weekend.
Speaking at his press conference on Monday, Van Bommel spoke about not underestimating Basel, ‘They are higher on the UEFA ranking than PSV, have regularly reached the group stage and have often done well in that. It won’t be easy. I think Basel is underestimated. It is a club that does very well according to its possibilities. “
The winner of the two ties would face LASK Linz in the third qualifying round.
Team News
Ibrahim Afellay is not fit to play for PSV just yet, but Hirving Lozano is fit enough to feature.
With a lack of centre-back options, Derrick Luckassen could be chosen to partner Nick Viergever in the centre of defence. Donyell Malen should start up front but the big question marks are in the midfield. Van Bommel couldn’t decide on a settled three in the middle last season and still has the same headache. If Jorrit Hendrix and Pablo Rosario start, the number ten position could go to Gaston Pereriro, Gutierrez, Mohammed Ihattaren, Sam Lammers or even Lozano.
Possible PSV line-up: Zoet, Dumfries, Lato, Viergever, Luckassen, Hendrix, Rosario, Lozano, Bergwijn, Bruma, Malen
FC Basel still have Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel in their squad and he should feature on Tuesday, but not from the start. Against Sion, Basel lined-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Albian Ajeti leading the line.
Possible Basel line-up: Omlin, Widmer, Petretta, Fernandez, Comert, Alvarez, Frei, Zuffi, Stocker, Okafor, Ajeti
Odds
PSV Eindhoven 4/7 Draw 29/10 Basel 19/4
The bookies make PSV Eindhoven the favourites for the clash at home but not by much.
Can PSV get a crucial victory?
Basel may not be the same team they have been in recent years but they are still a formidable opponent and many see this game as 50-50.
PSV need to be at their best on Tuesday to ensure they take a good lead with them to Switzerland next week. Much will depend on how the attack gels without Luuk de Jong. The pressure will be on Donyell Malen, who has been in good form in pre-season.
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