PSV is close to elimination in the Europa League. The team from Eindhoven lost in the first knockout round no less than 3-0 at Sevilla, the current number 12 in Spain. The return in the Philips stadium, where a place in the eighth finals can be earned, will follow in a week.
The big defeat is a setback for PSV, which thought it had found its way up again after a bad period in January. PSV scored 7 points in the last three league matches and qualified for the quarter finals of the KNVB Cup. The difficult away match against FC Utrecht awaits in the Eredivisie on Sunday.
Nice start
PSV started well in Spain and had a preponderance in the initial phase. Ismael Saibari had the first chance in the 10th minute, but from a rather difficult angle he came across the Moroccan goalkeeper Bono. Saibari was preferred by trainer Ruud van Nistelrooij to Johan Bakayoko, who was still a basic player against FC Groningen (6-0 win) on Saturday. Thorgan Hazard also disappeared from the starting team. The Belgian attacker, hired from Borussia Dortmund, is not yet ready to play entire matches in terms of fitness. Guus Til was allowed to participate in his place.
Sevilla got into the game better as the first half progressed. Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic created danger from dead game moments.
Ball lost in stoppage time
Luuk de Jong, of all people, led to PSV’s defeat. The striker, who gave Sevilla the Europa League three years ago by scoring twice in the final against Internazionale (3-2), unnecessarily lost the ball in the injury time of the first half. After a cross from captain Jesús Navas, Youssef En-Nesyri came in for André Ramalho and his shot hit the ground: 1-0.
Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli brought Lucas Ocampos into the team after the break. The Argentinian was rented out to Ajax this season, but that came to nothing. Ocampos therefore returned to Sevilla last month. The attacker beautifully doubled the lead in the 50th minute by taking the ball from the air with one leg and scoring with the other via the inside of the post. Shortly afterwards, Ocampos assisted Nemanja Gudelj’s 3-0, who played for NAC, AZ and Ajax in the Netherlands.
PSV was spared further suffering, but they were unable to score themselves. Joey Veerman still hit the post.
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