Peter Bosz also thought it sounded a bit “weird”. After a month in which PSV has suddenly lost the top form of the last year and a half and almost every match spares points, it feels surprising to talk about progression. And yet that is what the trainer Bosz saw, compared to the first European meeting with Juventus, five months ago. “Since then we have grown as a team, we are playing better now.”
Juventus from, the first group duel in the Champions League, was still “one of our worst performances” of the season even after last month, according to Bosz. His team had been without a chance, with that 3-1 mid-September. And when he looked back the game that same night, he found the game even weaker. His team played naively, as boys. Opponents were given too much space, the switch in the loss of ball was much too slow.
Bosz knew much better, and this week there is the chance to recover. In the interim of the highest European club tournament, Juventus is again the opponent, and that double meeting starts in Turin, where the evening was so disappointing last time. Juventus wins again (2-1), but this time PSV knows how to resist.
Difference on the flanks
The difference with the previous meeting is especially visible on the flanks. Among the wing defenders, where the vulnerability of PSV became the strongest in September. On the right side, Richie Ledezma was often unable to cope with Kenan Yildiz, who made the 1-0 last time. On the left, the Matteo Dams, which has now been sold had at least as much trouble with Nicolás González, who was at the basis of the 2-0.
Yet it was not the backs that went wrong, Bosz thought. That happened much higher on the field, with the offside players. They always let their husbands walk in the previous meeting, so that Ledezma and Dams regularly faced two or three opponents.
In the re -implementation of that game, that seems to go wrong again on Tuesday. Left winger Noa Lang lets Timothy Weah, the right back of Juventus, run several times, so that PSV is overflowing in the back left. After more than ten minutes, a new assignment will be instructed by his trainer and Weah succeeds much less to make it difficult for Eindhoven.
PSV also plays more conservatively elsewhere in the field than last time in Turin, with more patience. Instead of wanting to make the game, the Bosz team now focuses more on the fast switch. In addition to long, right winger Ivan Perisic is also important in this: after an interception, he is quickly gone, but if the counter runs out of nothing, he will be back just as quickly to defend with.
A sloppy mistake ultimately leads the 1-0 for Juventus. Joey Veerman from reversing a teammate will respond to a teammate, but his pass is straight in the feet of central defender Federico Gatti. Veerman Laks is also in the game with Gatti shortly thereafter. Through the Kluts the ball comes in front of the feet of midfielder Weston McKennie, who shoots hard.
Patience at PSV
But what happened in September this time will not come out. PSV cannot be distracted by the setback and continues to look patiently for an opportunity. Ten minutes of rest, that leads to the equalizer. After a quick switch, it takes a long time from the left, but his shot hits a head. For example, he ends up at the feet of Perisic, who cuts in with his right leg and takes it out with the left: 1-1.
For a moment even a victory seems feasible: after the equalizer, Juventus seems confused and PSV is the better one for a short time. Until Francisco Conceição escapes the coverage of left back Mauro Junior after 82 minutes with a bright sprint. The Portuguese gives for and goalkeeper Walter Benitez processes that attempt poorly. He taps the ball in Samuel Mbangula’s legs, who hit.
An “unnecessary” defeat, Bosz judged after the ESPN cameras. A competition that is decided by two personal mistakes. But also a duel in which PSV played more conservatively and was not overflowing, so that the Eindhoven players still have a chance to win a place in the next round next week.