Round three of the 2022-23 Europa League group-stage campaign sees FC Zurich welcome PSV Eindhoven to the Letzigrund Stadion on Thursday.
With the teams yet to pick up a victory from the opening two matchdays, they will both be keen to come away with all three points in this one.
Match preview
© Reuters
After losing out to Rangers in the Champions League playoffs, PSV Eindhoven opened their Europa League journey with a 1-1 draw against Bodo/Glimt on September 8.
The Rood-witten followed that up with consecutive wins against RKC Waalwijk and Feyenoord before suffering a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at the hands of Cambuur on Saturday.
Following a relatively uneventful first half, second-half goals from Silvester van der Water, Mitchel Paulissen and Sai Van Wermeskerken put Ruud van Nistelrooy's men to the sword.
With little time to dwell on a shocking result last time out, PSV now turn their attention to continental affairs where they currently sit third in Group A, albeit with a game in hand as their meeting against Arsenal originally scheduled for September 15 was postponed due to Queen Elizabeth II's death.
Having now suffered back to back defeats on the road for the first time since the turn of the year, Thursday's visitors set out to get themselves back on track away from home.
FC Zurich played out a 1-1 stalemate against city rivals Grasshopper Club Zurich when the teams went head-to-head on Saturday evening.
Consequently, the Swiss champions have snapped a three-game losing streak across three different competitions which they suffered prior to the international break.
In the middle of those aforementioned losses was a 2-1 defeat against Bodo/Glimt on September 15 which left Genesio Colatrella's men bottom of Group A as they remain without a point in this year's Europa League.
Off the back of three straight home defeats heading into Thursday's clash, the hosts have it all to do in their quest to avoid another disappointing outing in front of their fans.
Team News
© Reuters
Twenty-two-year-old Richard Ledezma is now fit to play again having made his return to action for PSV with an 11-minute cameo over the weekend.
However, Jamal Gonzaga and Noni Madueke are currently sidelined with ankle injuries, while forward Luuk de Jong is yet to shake off a calf problem.
Olivier Boscagli is also ruled out for the away side due to a long-term knee injury which has kept him out of action since the second week of April.
Ilan Sauter still awaits his first appearance for Zurich this term as the Switzerland international continues his spell on the treatment table.
Jonathan Okita is eligible to feature for the hosts in this one having served a one-game suspension in his side's last outing against Grasshoppers.
FC Zurich possible starting lineup:
Brecher; Aliti, Kryeziu, Kamberi; Selnaes, Guerrero, Dzemaili, Krasniqi, Boranijasevic; Aiyegun, Marchesano
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Max, Obispo, Branthwaite, Teze; Veerman, Sangare, Til; Gakpo, Simons, Saibari
We say: FC Zurich 1-2 PSV Eindhoven
Zurich have endured a poor start to the current campaign and PSV will be aiming to add to their hosts' woes in this one despite suffering a humiliating defeat in their most recent involvement. We fancy the away side to get the job done come the end of the 90 minutes here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Adepoju Marvellous
