Juve secure first leg lead over PSV | OneFootball

A hard-fought victory for Juve, who won the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off clash with PSV Eindhoven, with the winner over the two legs progressing to the Round of 16. The Bianconeri will travel to Eindhoven next week for the second leg as they look to book their place in the next round. Weston McKennie and Samuel Mbangula were the Juve goal scorers on the night, as they secured a 2-1 win.

Juventus defeated PSV Eindhoven 2-1 in an intense match at the Allianz Stadium. The Bianconeri, thanks to goals from McKennie and Mbangula, will take an important lead into the second leg, as they demonstrated both their solidity and determination.

FIRST HALF

Juventus flew out of the blocks, trying to impose their stye of play and dictate the tempo of the game. After only a few minutes, McKennie found Randal Kolo Muani on the right, but the Frenchman was stopped by the Dutch defence (3rd minute). The first real chance came in the 15th minute, when Nico Gonzalez won back possession and hit a shot from distance, forcing Walter Benitez into an important save, with the goalkeeper gathering the ball at the second time of asking. PSV immediately responded, but Ismael Saibari's shot flew high over the crossbar after an uncertain clearance by Michele Di Gregorio (16th minute).

The Bianconeri continued to push forward and in the 23rd minute they came close to taking the lead through Nico Gonzalez, who connected with a header from McKennie's cross, but the effort was too weak to trouble Benitez. PSV came close via Luuk De Jong in the 26th minute, but his header was saved by Di Gregorio.

THE OPENING GOAL

The opening goal came in the 34th minute when McKennie dispatched a pinball in the Dutch box with a powerful, precise shot from distance that slotted under the crossbar, beating Benitez. Juventus went into half-time in the lead, with Nico Gonzalez attempting to double their advantage before the break with a header from a corner (40th minute), but his effort was too central.

Juventus got off to a strong start and came close to scoring their second in the 51st minute through Mbangula’s volleyed effort following Timothy Weah's pass, but Ryan Flamingo was on hand to make a goal-line clearance.

THE EQUALISER

PSV found the equaliser in the 56th minute: Ivan Perisic brought the ball under control and beat Di Gregorio with a precise shot towards the near post. After a VAR check, the goal was confirmed.

Juventus were unperturbed and resumed their attack. Francisco Conceicao, who came on in the 57th minute, let off a strike from distance in the 62nd minute, but Benitez parried the shot away comfortably.

MBANGULA WINS IT

The Bianconeri found the winner to make it 2-1 in the 82nd minute: Federico Gatti won back possession and teed up Conceicao, who broke free out wide and delivered a low cross. Mbangula was quick to latch onto Benitez’s parried save and slotted the ball into the back of the net to put Juventus ahead.

In the closing stages, PSV tried to find another equaliser, but Juventus held firm and secured an important victory.

Gallery | UCL | Juventus - PSV Eindhoven

JUVENTUS 2-1 PSV EINDHOVEN

Allianz Stadium, Tuesday 11 February, 2025 at 21:00 (CET) UEFA Champions League – Knockout phase play-off – First Leg

Goals: 34’ McKennie (J), 56’ Perisic (P), 82’ Mbangula (J)

Juventus: Di Gregorio, Weah, Gatti, Veiga, Kelly, Locatelli (68’ Thuram), Douglas Luiz, Nico Gonzalez (58’ Conceicao), McKennie (68’ Koopmeiners), Yildiz (46’ Mbangula), Kolo Muani (77’ Vlahovic). Unused Substitutes: Perin, Pinsoglio, Savona, Rouhi. Coach: Thiago Motta.

PSV Eindhoven: Benitez, Ledezma, Flamingo, Obispo, Mauro Junior, Saibari (72’ Til), Schouten, Veerman, Perisic, Lang (72’ Bakayoko), De Jong. Unused Substitutes: Malacia, Drommel, Bajraktarevic, Driouech, Schiks, Babadi, Land, Kuhn, Uneken, Nagalo. Coach: Peter Bosz.

Referee: Daniel Siebert Assistants: Jan Siedel, Rafael Foltyn Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager

Bookings: 73’ De Jong (P)

Next Match:

Juventus-Inter Milan Serie A – Matchday 25 Sunday, 16 February, 2025 at 20:45 (CET) Allianz Stadium