The Champions League group stage begins this week with PSV Eindhoven hosting Atletico Madrid at Philips Stadion on Tuesday.
- Follow Football-Oranje on Twitter
The Eredivisie enjoyed an excellent Champions League campaign which saw them finish above CSKA Moscow and Manchester United in the group before being ousted out on penalties in the first knockout round by Tuesday’s opponents Atletico Madrid. Both legs against the Spanish giants finished 0-0 before Atletico triumphed in the shootout and Phillip Cocu’s side will be hoping for revenge when he locks horns with Diego Simeone again.
PSV have enjoyed a good start to the season, having dropped only two points in a shock 0-0 draw with Groningen two weeks ago and they go into the tie on the back of a 4-0 win over NEC Nijmegen at the weekend. Atletico started their La Liga campaign with two disappointing draws, but they looked back to their best on Friday in a 4-0 win over Celta Vigo in which Antoine Griezmann netted twice.
Team news
PSV will be without the injured Jurgen Locadia for the match, but that is the only concern for Cocu who has an otherwise full squad to choose from. After resting both Santiago Arias and Andres Guardado at the weekend both are expected to return to the starting line-up. Bart Ramselaar, who netted his first goal for the club at the weekend will likely drop to the bench, while Siem de Jong could make his debut.
Cocu has been trying out potential formations in training and could line up in either a 5-3-2 or 4-3-3 formation on Tuesday. If he decides on a 5-3-2 it will be likey that Daniel Schwaab will come into the centre of defence for Gaston Pereiro, and Narsingh will add pace to the attack alongside De Jong.
Potential PSV line-up: Zoet, Arias, Willems, Moreno, Isimat-Mirin, Guardado, Propper, Hendrix, Narsingh, Pereiro, De Jong
Simeone named his 19 man squad for the tie at the weekend with big money summer signing Sime Vrsaljko the only absentee. New faces Nico Gaitan, and Kevin Gameiro will be hoping to feature, but will likely start on the bench.
Potential Atletico line-up: Oblak, Juanfran, Filipe Luis, Godin, Savic, Gabi, Koke, Saul, Carrasco, Griezmann, Torres
Odds
PSV 15/4 Draw: 12/5 Atletico Madrid: 10/11
Home form key for PSV
The key factor for PSV in their Champions league run last season was their form in Eindhoven and if they are to have any chance of getting out of this group then they must remain unbeaten at the Philips Stadion. That will be tricky with Bayern Munich to follow Atletico but Cocu will have his side well organised and set up to counter. Atletico will start as favourites for the game on Tuesday, but as last season showed, underestimate PSV at your peril.
Follow
Follow @Footballoranje_ on Twitter
