PSV Eindhoven vs Juventus: Preview, predictions and lineups

Juventus’ Champions League play-off tie with PSV Eindhoven looks evenly poised heading into the second leg on Wednesday night.

Samuel Mbangula’s strike handed Thiago Motta’s side a 2-1 victory in last week’s first leg, but Juve have a big task ahead if they’re to book their place in the round of 16. Peter Bosz’s dynamic PSV outfit are very tough to shackle on home soil.

However, the Bianconeri head into the return leg off the back of an impressive 1-0 win over Inter in the Derby d’Italia which moved them up to fourth in the Serie A table. The visitors have lost just one away game all season (at league leaders Napoli).

PSV’s dominance from 2023/24 hasn’t carried over into the current campaign, but they’ve got a shot at reaching the round of 16 in back-to-back seasons. The Dutch outfit are chasing the in-form Ajax at the top of the Eredivisie table after they picked up their third successive draw in the league at the weekend.

Here is 90min’s guide to PSV vs Juventus.

PSV Eindhoven vs Juventus H2H Record (All Games)

Current form (all competitions)

PSV Eindhoven

Juventus

PSV 2-2 Utrecht – 15/02/25

Juventus 1-0 Inter – 16/02/25

Juventus 2-1 PSV – 11/02/25

Juventus 2-1 PSV – 11/02/25

PSV 1-1 Willem II – 08/02/25

Como 1-2 Juventus – 07/02/25

PSV 2-0 Feyenoord – 05/02/25

Juventus 4-1 Empoli – 02/02/25

NEC 3-3 PSV – 01/02/25

Juventus 0-2 Benfica – 29/01/25

Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

TNT Sports 3, discovery+, discovery+ App

United States

Paramount+

Canada

DAZN Canada

Ricardo PepiRicardo Pepi

Ricardo Pepi is out for the rest of the season / BSR Agency/GettyImages

PSV’s American contingent have all succumbed to long-term injuries, with Ricardo Pepi ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up a serious knee injury. Malik Tillman and Sergino Dest are also absent.

They had availability issues in defence last week, and such concerns haven’t been totally alleviated in time for the second leg. Bosz will likely be without Rick Karsdorp and Olivier Boscagli for Juve’s visit.

Manchester United loanee Tyrell Malacia should be considered, although minutes are more likely off the bench.

Ivan Perisic returned to Italy to haunt the Bianconeri last week, and he should start down PSV’s left on Wednesday.

PSV predicted lineup vs Juventus (4-2-3-1): Benitez; Ledezma, Flamingo, Obispo, Junior; Schouten, Veerman; Bakayoko, Saibari, Perisic; De Jong.

Samuel Mbangula TshifundaSamuel Mbangula Tshifunda

Samuel Mbangula was the match-winner last week / Jonathan Moscrop/GettyImages

Randal Kolo Muani has usurped Dusan Vlahovic as Motta’s preferred option up top having joined the club on loan from PSG in January. The Frenchman teed up Francisco Conceicao’s winner on Sunday following a delightful piece of skill in the Inter box.

Arkadiusz Milik remains sidelined for the visitors, so Vlahovic will be called upon in reserve.

Manuel Locatelli, Kenan Yildiz and Andrea Cambiaso were all utilised off the bench at the weekend and are contenders to start in Eindhoven. Mbangula, last week’s match-winner, could also get the nod.

Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, Pierre Kalulu and Douglas Luiz are out injured.

Juventus predicted lineup vs PSV Eindhoven (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Weah, Gatti, Veiga, Cambiaso; Thuram, Locatelli; Gonzalez, McKennie, Yildiz; Kolo Muani

PSV are unbeaten at home this season, but Juventus don’t need to win in Eindhoven to secure progression into the round of 16. The Philips Stadion is not an easy place to visit, but Juve will be emboldened by their recent victory in the Derby d’Italia.

It was this time last year when Motta’s Bologna found their groove as they secured their place in this season’s Champions League, and the game state should suit the visitors on Wednesday. They’ve become more comfortable playing without the ball and threatening primarily on the counter-attack.

Thus, while they’ll likely have to ride several storms, the Italians are in a good position to advance.

Prediction: PSV Eindhoven 1-1 Juventus

READ THE LATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE

Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting CP: Preview, predictions and lineups

Borussia Dortmund will be looking to ease into the Champions League round of 16 when they host Sporting CP in the second leg of their play-off tie.

Dortmund produced an efficient display in Lisbon to take full control of this tie, with summer arrival Serhou Guirassy starring as Niko Kovac picked up his first win in charge of BVB.

Issues have continued to arise under the new manager domestically, however, and they were beaten again at the weekend. This time, Bochum took advantage of their vulnerabilities in a dire 2-0 defeat.

Sporting, meanwhile, have fallen by the wayside since Ruben Amorim left town, and their fortunes are not improving under Rui Borges after Amorim’s successor, Joao Pereira, was sacked weeks into the job.

After last week’s convincing defeat, ten-man Sporting were held at home by Arouca on Saturday and their advantage at the top of the Primeira Liga is now just two points.

Here’s all you need to know about Wednesday’s Champions League play-off.

Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting CP H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Borussia Dortmund

Sporting CP

Bochum 2-0 Borussia Dortmund – 15/02/25

Sporting CP 2-2 Arouca – 15/02/25

Sporting CP 0-3 Borussia Dortmund – 11/02/25

Sporting CP 0-3 Borussia Dortmund – 11/02/25

Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Stuttgart – 08/02/25

Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Shakhtar Donetsk – 29/01/25

Heidenheim 1-2 Borussia Dortmund – 01/02/25

Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Werder Bremen – 25/01/25

Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Shakhtar Donetsk – 29/01/25

Bologna 2-1 Borussia Dortmund – 21/01/25

Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 4

United States

Paramount+

Canada

DAZN Canada

Borussia Dortmund v SV Werder Bremen - BundesligaBorussia Dortmund v SV Werder Bremen - Bundesliga

Felix Nmecha is expected to return next month / Max Ellerbrake – firo sportphoto/GettyImages

Kovac inherited a relatively healthy Dortmund squad, although Felix Nmecha and Ramy Bensebaini are both out until March and won’t be in action on Wednesday.

Marcel Sabitzer was hooked at half-time against Bochum and could drop out of the hosts’ midfield in favour of Salih Ozcan. He’ll likely join Pascal Gross in Dortmund’s pivot, with the German international scoring in last week’s first leg win.

Guirassy is a shoo-in to start up top after his stellar display in Lisbon.

Dortmund predicted lineup vs Sporting (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Gross; Adeyemi, Brandt, Gittens; Guirassy.

Daniel BragancaDaniel Braganca

Daniel Braganca is out for the long haul / Gualter Fatia/GettyImages

Midfield general Morten Hjulmand is available for selection after missing the first leg due to suspension. However, the hosts recently suffered a notable setback in the middle of the park as Daniel Braganca sustained an ACL tear.

Defender Zeno Debast could be forced into a midfield role in Braganca’s absence.

Geny Catamo has also recently joined Sporting’s injury list alongside Nuno Santos, a former Amorim favourite, so we’ll likely see the visitors adopt a back four in Dortmund.

Sporting predicted lineup vs Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Silva; Fresneda, Diomande, Quaresma, Reis; Debast, Hjulmand; Trincao, Simoes, Biel; Gyokeres.

Sporting once looked like one of the dark horses in this competition, but their falloff after Amorim’s departure has been staggering. They were put to the sword by a vulnerable Dortmund team last week, and they’ve now got a near impossible task on Wednesday if they want to progress.

The requisite inspiration isn’t arriving anytime soon, with the Yellow Wall bound to enjoy yet another evening in the Champions League.

Kovac’s side are doubtlessly flawed and may well concede on home soil, but Guirassy’s undeniable quality should shine through again in a closely contested victory.

Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Sporting CP

READ THE LATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE

PSG vs Brest: Preview, predictions and lineups

PSG take a commanding 3-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie with domestic rivals Brest.

This is the first all-French affair in Europe’s premier club competition since the 2009/10 campaign when Lyon beat Bordeaux 3-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.

PSG were heavy favourites to advance into the round of 16 before the tie kicked off in Guingamp last week, and they produced an assertive display away from home to take a big leap towards the next phase. Wednesday’s hosts extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 games with a 1-0 win at Toulouse on Saturday.

Brest are aiming to return to European competition next season, but they currently sit ninth in Ligue 1 and they were held by an out-of-sorts Auxerre on Friday night. Just four points separate Eric Roy’s side and a resurgent Lyon in sixth – the Conference League spot.

Here is 90min’s guide to the game.

PSG vs Brest head-to-head record (last five games)

Current form (all competitions)

PSG

Brest

Toulouse 0-1 PSG – 15/02/25

Brest 2-2 Auxerre – 14/02/25

Brest 0-3 PSG – 11/02/25

Brest 0-3 PSG – 11/02/25

PSG 4-1 Monaco – 07/02/25

Nantes 0-2 Brest – 07/02/25

Le Mans 0-2 PSG – 04/02/25

Troyes 1-2 Brest – 04/02/25

Brest 2-5 PSG – 01/02/25

Brest 2-5 PSG – 01/02/25

Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 4

United States

Paramount+, ViX

Canada

DAZN Canada

Luis EnriqueLuis Enrique

Luis Enrique rotated his team heavily at the weekend / Franco Arland/GettyImages

Enrique certainly won’t be taking any chances on Wednesday, and he rotated heavily for PSG’s forgettable win at Toulouse on Saturday.

Marquinhos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Vitinha, Ousmane Dembele and Joao Neves are all expected to return to the starting XI against Brest having dropped to the bench at the weekend.

The hosts currently have few concerns on the injury front, although Warren Zaire-Emery is likely to miss out again with an ankle issue.

PSG predicted lineup vs Brest (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Barcola, Dembele, Doue.

FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-BREST-MONACOFBL-FRA-LIGUE1-BREST-MONACO

Eric Roy may prioritise an important game in Ligue 1 this weekend / FRED TANNEAU/GettyImages

Brest have an important Ligue 1 fixture against Strasbourg this weekend, so there could be some rotation in midweek given the size of the task at the visitors’ disposal. Roy may well prioritise the weekend’s game.

Jordan Amavi and Bradley Locko have been out for the long haul with respective hamstring and Achilles injuries, while Jonas Martin and playmaker Romain Del Castillo are both likely to miss out again. Ibrahim Salah is a fresh concern for Brest after he was forced off with a knock at the weekend.

Brest predicted lineup vs PSG (4-3-3): Bizot; Zogbe, Chardonnet, Coulibaly, Pereira Lage; Lees-Melou, Magnetti, Doumbia; Faivre, Ajorque, Balde.

Brest won’t be downing tools on Wednesday night despite the impossible task they have on their hands. Who knows when they’ll appear in this competition again?

The visitors aren’t going to do the unthinkable, but will they at least give the hosts something to think about? It seems unlikely given the swagger PSG currently boast, and you have to go all the way back to 1981 for the last time Brest won away at their upcoming hosts.

It could be another long night for Roy’s men.

Prediction: PSG 3-0 Brest

READ THE LATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE

Carlo Ancelotti reveals Real Madrid strategy for Man City clash

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Real Madrid plan to approach Wednesday night’s second leg Champions League play-off clash with Manchester City exactly the same as the first.

Madrid hold a slender aggregate lead following a dramatic 3-2 win at Etihad Stadium last week and are considered favourites to progress given that they now have home advantage in the decisive second leg.

In terms of strategy and style, Ancelotti won’t stray from what ultimately worked in the reverse.

“It will be an entertaining, complicated and difficult match. We are going to try to prepare well and recover players who can help us,” he told reporters in the Spanish capital on Tuesday.

“We are going to try to play the same game as last week. The idea is this but with the difficulty of this type of match in a knockout round where we play everything in 90 minutes.”

Jude BellinghamJude Bellingham

Real Madrid won in Manchester last week / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Pep Guardiola gave Manchester City just a 1% chance of overturning the aggregate deficit, which Ancelotti finds difficult to believe will be the case with such fine margins.

“He really doesn’t think so. I’ll ask him if he really has 1%,” the Italian replied when his counterpart’s comment was brought up. “We don’t think we have 99%. We think we have a small advantage. We have to take advantage of it and play the same game as in the first leg, where things went well.”

Antonio Rudiger is tipped to return to the starting lineup for Manchester City’s visit, having missed the club’s last four games – including the first leg of this tie – through injury.

David Alaba is also set to be part of the matchday squad after recovering from his recent setback and Lucas Vazquez could make the bench. It should serve to strengthen Madrid defensively after the inexperienced Raul Asencio partnered midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in Manchester.

READ THE LATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE

Chelsea to loan £17m signing back to boyhood club

Chelsea have opted to send their promising young striker Deivid Washington back to his boyhood club Santos on a one-year loan deal, according to multiple reports.

Washington signed for Chelsea in the summer of 2023 in a transfer which could rise to as much as £17m. The Brazilian striker has spent much of his opening 18 months in west London turning out for the under-21 side and was afforded just three fleeting cameos by Mauricio Pochettino last term. Enzo Maresca has only included the 19-year-old in one matchday squad.

The Blues are embroiled in a striker injury crisis, with Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson both sidelined until at least April with muscular issues. Despite this dearth of centre-forwards, there is no clear path into the first team for Washington.

As he continues his search for senior football, Washington has agreed a temporary return to Santos according to The Athletic. The Brazilian is expected to pen a one-year deal to cover the entire 2025 domestic season in his homeland.

There will reportedly be a break clause included which can be triggered in the European summer if Chelsea want to whisk Washington back ahead of the 2025/26 campaign – a method the club used for Argentine centre-back Aaron Anselmino this year.

Santos have avoided a loan fee but will cover Washington’s entire salary.

Not only will Washington have regular access to more minutes, he was often called upon as an 18-year-old during his first spell at Santos, but the youngster will have the chance to play alongside Neymar.

On the same day that Neymar’s return to Santos was announced at the end of January, Washington posted a picture of himself alongside the Brazilian icon from several years earlier.

After a disastrous 18 months at Al Hilal, Neymar returned to his boyhood club this year “to rediscover soccer, to rediscover joy”, to use his own words. Teaming up with a youthful compatriot who grew up idolising him could benefit Neymar and Washington.

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND THE WORLD