PSV lost 1-0 on Tuesday evening at Stade Brest. If they won, the people of Eindhoven could almost certainly have qualified for the next round, but now they still have to work hard in the last two matches to reach the next round. PSV mainly had itself to blame for the defeat in Brittany.
There was nothing left of PSV’s top form in Guingamp. The untouchable leader of the Eredivisie was shockingly weak against an equally mediocre Stade Brest. Anyone who watched the match on Tuesday evening would have thought of a game in the Kitchen Champion Division rather than the Champions League.
Just like in the second level of the Netherlands, so many mistakes were made on both sides, which meant that there was plenty to do in the Stade de Roudourou. Despite the weak play, the biggest chances were for PSV, but Luuk de Jong, among others, did not have his sights set when he came one on one with Marco Bizot, the Dutch goalkeeper of Brest.
Substitutions at half time had little effect
The home club became especially dangerous after PSV mistakes and became threatening in the transition. A recipe that often works against the people of Eindhoven. The French took the lead just before half time. Julien Le Cardinal was able to score a free kick from close range.
PSV coach Peter Bosz was dissatisfied and made two substitutions in the second half. Both backs left: Matteo Dams and Rick Karsdorp were replaced by Joey Veerman and Richard Ledezma. But in the first five minutes after half-time it was Brest that missed the chance to make it 2-0.
Top form cannot be taken for granted
PSV tried to put more pressure on the French, but were unable to create any clear-cut opportunities. While the French missed many opportunities to close the match, PSV hit the post twice through Ismael Saibari.
But an equalizer was hardly possible in the second half. PSV played poorly against an opponent who could certainly be beaten if they ‘just’ reached the level of the previous matches. But as Bosz said then, this is not self-evident. And that was evident on Tuesday evening in Guingamp.