PSV stunted in the group stage of the Europa League on Thursday evening. Arsenal were beaten 2-0 at home. Due to the loss of Bodø/Glimt in Zurich, it is even assured of the next round in the second European Cup tournament.
Three times a charm also applied on Thursday evening in the Philips Stadium. In the first half it was already twice a party in the Philips Stadium, but a goal from PSV was also rejected twice due to offside.
After 55 minutes of play, there was still an outburst of joy in Eindhoven when Joey Veerman gave the home team a deserved lead.
Luke de Jong
After a sluggish first half with two striking moments, the disallowed goals by Xavi Simons and Cody Gakpo, the second half started much nicer. PSV brought Luuk de Jong and with the striker in the team, the home team immediately started to play better football. The tall attack leader put Veerman in scoring position after a smart move. The midfielder scored the 1-0 in a controlled manner.
The fact that De Jong was missed at PSV in recent weeks was not hidden. But no one could have dreamed that he would immediately have such an important influence upon his return. Less than ten minutes after the opening goal, the 2-0 also fell. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was completely wrong at a corner, after which the striker nodded in the second Eindhoven goal with his head.
The final decision seemed to fall before the 70th minute when Gakpo was the end station of a good counter, but for a third time a PSV attacker was sidelined with a goal. Not much later, De Jong was close to 3-0. His header, however, went just wide. Besides De Jong, Simons was also invaluable in PSV’s attacking game.
Good news from Zurich
It would be a miracle if PSV qualified for the next round of the Europa League this Thursday. That is what trainer Ruud van Nistelrooij said at the press conference on Wednesday afternoon. The people from Eindhoven had to achieve a better result than competitor Bodø/Glimt. The Norwegians still took the lead in Zurich, but 20 minutes before the end they had to swallow the equalizer. An intermediate position with which PSV would certainly finish second in the group.
In the last few minutes it was no longer exciting whether PSV would hold onto the lead but whether the Norwegians would still win. That did not happen, in fact FC Zurich triumphed 2-1. PSV will continue in the Europa League and will only fight for the top position in the group next week in Bodø. That would save a round although it depends on Arsenal for that. It didn’t make the party in Eindhoven any less.