Juventus Take Slim Lead to Eindhoven After Hard-Fought Victory
Samuel Mbangula came off the bench to score an 82nd-minute winner as Juventus edged past PSV Eindhoven 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off on Tuesday.
After Weston McKennie’s first-half opener, Ivan Perisic leveled for PSV early in the second half before Mbangula pounced late on to ensure Juventus take a one-goal advantage into next week’s return leg in the Netherlands.
Match Summary: A Game of Two Halves
First Half: Juventus Start Strong
- Juventus dominated the early exchanges, looking to replicate their 3-1 league phase victory over PSV earlier in the season.
- 34′ – GOAL! Juventus 1-0 PSV
- Federico Gatti’s cross caused chaos in the box, and Weston McKennie unleashed a thunderous strike from the edge of the area to break the deadlock.
- PSV struggled to respond and headed into halftime trailing 1-0.
Second Half: PSV Fight Back but Juventus Have the Last Word
- 55′ – GOAL! Juventus 1-1 PSV
- Ivan Perisic, at 36 years old, rolled back the years with a low-driven shot past Michele Di Gregorio to bring PSV level.
- The visitors grew in confidence, but Juventus stayed compact, waiting for their opportunity.
- 82′ – GOAL! Juventus 2-1 PSV
- Samuel Mbangula reacted quickest to a rebound from PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez, scoring from close range to restore Juventus’ lead.
The hosts held on to take a crucial advantage into the second leg in Eindhoven next week.
Player Ratings
Juventus (4-2-3-1)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Michele Di Gregorio | 6.5 |
| RB: Timothy Weah | 6.7 |
| CB: Federico Gatti | 7.1 |
| CB: Daniele Rugani | 6.9 |
| LB: Andrea Cambiaso | 6.8 |
| CM: Weston McKennie | 7.9 ⭐ (MOTM) |
| CM: Manuel Locatelli | 7.1 |
| RW: Samuel Iling-Junior | 6.5 |
| AM: Fabio Miretti | 6.3 |
| LW: Kenan Yildiz | 6.4 |
| ST: Dusan Vlahovic | 6.8 |
Key Substitutes:
- Samuel Mbangula (77′ for Iling-Junior) – 7.5 (⚽ 82′)
- Moise Kean (84′ for Vlahovic) – N/A
PSV Eindhoven (4-2-3-1)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Walter Benitez | 6.1 |
| RB: Jordan Teze | 6.4 |
| CB: Olivier Boscagli | 6.5 |
| CB: Andre Ramalho | 6.6 |
| LB: Mauro Junior | 6.2 |
| CM: Joey Veerman | 6.8 |
| CM: Jerdy Schouten | 6.9 |
| RW: Johan Bakayoko | 6.7 |
| AM: Ismael Saibari | 6.5 |
| LW: Ivan Perisic | 7.2 (⚽ 55′) |
| ST: Luuk de Jong | 6.6 |
Key Substitutes:
- Guus Til (72′ for Saibari) – 6.2
Tactical Analysis & Talking Points
1. Mbangula the Difference-Maker
- The 19-year-old Belgian was the hero of the night, scoring just five minutes after coming off the bench.
- His goal gives Juventus a vital lead, putting pressure on PSV in the second leg.
2. Young vs. Old: Contrasting Squad Ages
- Juventus fielded their youngest-ever starting XI for a Champions League knockout tie (25 years, 172 days avg.).
- Meanwhile, PSV’s lineup (27 years, 259 days) was their oldest in a Champions League knockout match since 2004.
- Ivan Perisic (36 years, 9 days) became the oldest PSV player to score in the Champions League.
3. Juventus Show Grit, But PSV Will Feel They Can Come Back
- Juventus weren’t at their best but found a way to win.
- PSV had more possession (56%) but lacked cutting edge.
- With PSV playing at home next week, they will believe they can turn the tie around.
What’s Next?
Second Leg – Philips Stadion, Eindhoven (February 20, 2025)
- Juventus will look to protect their slim advantage and qualify for the Champions League last 16.
- PSV must go on the attack to overturn the deficit in front of their home fans.
Prediction for the Second Leg: PSV 2-1 Juventus (Agg: 3-3, Juventus advance on penalties).
