PSV and Leicester City have drawn 0-0 in their first game for the Conference League. In Leicester the match started very hopeful, but the entertainment value dropped by the minute. Due to the draw, everything is still open for the return next Thursday in Eindhoven.
It was hardly about the duel beforehand. The issue at hand was who would be on goal at PSV. The answer came around half past seven Dutch time. Yvon Mvogo was preferred over Joël Drommel. The Swiss played a fine game in Leicester, England, although he was not tested very much.
Opportunities
In advance, trainer Roger Schmidt already said that Leicester individually had more qualities. That was also reflected on the field, although PSV got the first big chance. Within five minutes Mario Götze had the 0-1 on his shoe. He only shot against the well-executing Kasper Schmeichel.
On the other hand, Kelechi Iheanacho and Harvey Barnes were close to the opening goal. Barnes even hit the bar. PSV let Leicester make the game and hoped for a counter themselves via Noni Madueke and Cody Gakpo.
Supported by a sold out section, 1600 PSV supporters, the people of Eindhoven managed to hold their own against the Premier League club fairly easily.
Penalty moment
In the second half, Leicester remained the better team optically because of the many ball possession. But the greatest moment of excitement happened in the English sixteen-meter area. Gakpo passed his direct opponent who in turn slipped. A clean foul followed but the referee, Ivan Kruzliak, saw it differently.
It was sour for PSV that there was no VAR present and was therefore disadvantaged by the arbitral decision.
Little uplifting
After the ‘penalty moment’ nothing more happened in the King Power Stadium. The game went off like a candlestick and both teams seemed to be at peace with a 0-0 score. There was no real chance anymore.
As a result, everything is still open for the return next week in Eindhoven. Especially given the fact that away goals don’t matter, a 0-0 visit to Leicester is a result to come home with. PSV played with the idea of finishing it next week in an already sold out Philips Stadium and will also get the chance to do so.
In any case, the race in Leicester will not go down in the history books as a legendary European trip. More spectacle will undoubtedly follow next week.