Supported by 1600 clearly audible PSV supporters in Leicester’s King Power Stadium, PSV got off to a great start. Already in the second minute Mario Götze was cleverly released by Joey Veerman, but the German couldn’t get the ball past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
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What PSV showed in the initial phase looked good, but Leicester City would soon take matters into their own hands. The 2016 English national champions have had a difficult season in the Premier League and are currently only tenth, but of course have a top selection with an estimated market value of more than 500 million euros.
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers and player Timothy Castagne had already indicated in advance that they expected PSV to struggle with the pace and intensity with which the home team would play. That prediction came true.
For many PSV players it all went just a little too fast after the strong opening phase and the team of coach Roger Schmidt made it difficult for itself due to frequent sloppy ball loss. PSV came under a lot of pressure and in some situations also showed too little courage to play forward before half-time. Leicester’s dominance provided two good opportunities for the English, but after Veerman’s costly loss of the ball, Kelechi Iheanacho placed the ball wide, while Harvey Barnes blasted the ball onto the crossbar above PSV goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo.
The Swiss had been preferred over Joël Drommel after his bad turn against FC Twente, which meant that the goalkeeper, who was attracted for 3.5 million euros last summer, lost his place for the second time this season. Last time it happened against AZ at the beginning of February, but because Mvogo was responsible for the defeat by a decisive goalkeeper error, Schmidt decided – partly with a view to the future – to give preference to Drommel again. However, he was so taken aback after his bad performance against FC Twente that Schmidt fell back on Mvogo in the interest of the team.
Yvon Mvogo intervenes.
Pro Shots
The Swiss made a calm and solid impression in Leicester and could look back on a good game without having to make very spectacular saves. Mvogo can now prepare for a series of matches in the decisive phase of the season, in which the prizes will be distributed, with RKC home for the competition next weekend, the return against Leicester next week and the KNVB cup final against Ajax the weekend after. .
Compared to the away match against FC Twente, there were three new faces in PSV’s base besides Mvogo. Cody Gakpo, André Ramalho and Noni Madueke, all three of whom only joined the team at half-time in Enschede to repair the damage sustained, were kick-off this time.
Arsenal is watching
For Gakpo, who enjoys serious interest from Arsenal, and the Englishman Madueke, who is also closely followed by many English clubs, including Leicester City, the game at King Power Stadium was a great opportunity to give a business card. That didn’t really work out in the first half, but after the break PSV managed to play better under the pressure of Leicester City and the people of Eindhoven showed again how much footballing ability there is in the team.
PSV had earned a penalty when Gakpo slid down in the box, but Slovakian Ivan Kruzliak failed to give it and because there is no VAR in the quarterfinals of the Conference League (which only comes into play from the semifinals), it was possible can no longer be rectified. With Ritsu Doan replacing the disappointing Eran Zahavi, PSV went on the hunt for victory, but both teams were no longer dangerous and continued their battle for a place in the semi-finals against the winner of the match between FK Bodø/Glimt-AS Roma (first game 2-1) next week in the Philips Stadium.
Comment Cody Gakpo
Gakpo looked back with a pretty good feeling. “We are playing a draw in an away game against not a bad team. We can be satisfied,” said the captain. “They played good football and forced us back. We didn’t really get a grip on it,” Gakpo looks back on the first half. He was more satisfied with the second act. “Then we did better.”
Gakpo felt he deserved a penalty when he slipped into Leicester’s box. “He didn’t hit the ball and I did. So I think it was a penalty. It is a pity that we do not have a video referee in the Conference League, but it is what it is,” said the Orange international, who is hopeful about next week’s return in Eindhoven. “We know what to expect. Then we can bring it in.”