Champions League
Mar 4, 2025 8.00pm
1
7
HT : 1 3
FT Philips Stadion
  • Noa Lang 43' goal
  • Tyrell Malacia 89' yellowcard
  • goal Jurrien Maduro 18'
  • goal Ethan Nwaneri 21'
  • yellowcard Myles Lewis-Skelly 24'
  • goal Mikel Merino 31'
  • yellowcard Thomas Partey 42'
  • goal Martin Odegaard 47'
  • goal Leandro Trossard 48'
  • yellowcard Jurrien Maduro 69'
  • goal Martin Odegaard 73'
  • goal Riccardo Calafiori 85'

PSV Eindhoven lineup vs. Arsenal: Predicted XI for Champions League clash as Gunners denied striker reunion

Ex-Gunner to be denied reunion: Predicted PSV XI vs. Arsenal

PSV Eindhoven new boy Lucas Perez will be denied a reunion with former club Arsenal when his side welcome the Gunners to the Philips Stadion for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

The veteran Spanish striker recently joined the Eredivisie giants as a free agent, but he has not been included in PSV's Champions League squad list due to clubs only being permitted to make three changes between the league and knockout phases.

As Perez watches on from afar, another experienced centre-forward in Luuk de Jong will spearhead the charge on what will be his 50th Champions League appearance, a tally only four previous Dutch strikers have hit (Robin van Persie, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Patrick Kluivert and Roy Makaay).

De Jong will no doubt be flanked by exciting wide duo Johan Bakayoko and Noa Lang, while Ismael Saibari should win his head-to-head with Guus Til to start in the number 10 position.

Saibari occupied a deeper role in Saturday's shock 3-2 Eredivisie loss to Go Ahead Eagles, but Peter Bosz should now bring Joey Veerman in alongside Jerdy Schouten for more defensive stability.

Mauro Junior has also trained following a bone bruise and could return alongside Olivier Boscagli, Ryan Flamingo and Richard Ledezma ahead of Walter Benitez, as Manchester United-owned Tyrell Malacia drops out.

Malik Tillman (leg), Ricardo Pepi (knee) and teenage winger Esmir Bajraktarevic (unspecified) make up a trio of injury-related absentees for Tuesday's hosts.

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup: Benitez; Ledezma, Flamingo, Boscagli, Junior; Veerman, Schouten; Bakayoko, Saibari, Lang; De Jong

> Click here to see how Arsenal could line up for the first leg

POLL
Who will win Tuesday's Champions League clash between PSV and Arsenal?
PSV Eindhoven 35%
Draw 25%
Arsenal 39%
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