Round five of the UEFA Champions League is dominated by a crucial away game for PSV. Head coach Peter Bosz 's team travels to Spain to take on Sevilla FC for the second time in the group stage. In a match in which Luuk de Jong can claim a club record, PSV is out for a first win on Spanish soil in years
Earlier this season, PSV and Sevilla FC faced each other in a swirling Philips Stadium. An enthralling match followed, with a spectacular second half: Nemanja Gudelj shot the visitors into the lead in minute 68 only to enter an exciting final phase. PSV came alongside through a penalty kick by Luuk in the 86th minute, but shortly after that they cashed in Sevilla FC's 2-1 through a goal by Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri. The main force went from euphoria to disappointment, only to have the Philips Stadium explode again in injury time. A free kick from Hirving Lozano came via the bobble to the feet of Jordan Teze, who worked the ball behind Sevilla FC goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland. He set the final score at 2-2 and saved a point for PSV.
Last season
Prior to this season, the two teams met only twice. Both games took place last season, in the first round of the knockout phase of the UEFA Europa League. Sevilla FC prevailed then by winning 3-2 over the two duels. In Andalusia, it was 3-0 for 'Los Hispalenses', so PSV's 2-0 home win was not enough to advance. Luuk and Fábio Silva were responsible for the red and white's goals at the time.
Coach change & intermediate standings
A week after the Eindhoven encounter, then-head coach José Luis Mendilibar was fired by the Spanish club. However, with his successor at the helm, Diego Alonso, the results have not improved. Sevilla FC has not won a game in La Liga since then and went down both duels with Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League.
The team currently holds the fourth spot in PSV's UEFA Champions League pool with two points after four games. PSV is second and can do good business toward wintering in the prestigious tournament with a win on Wednesday night. If RC Lens also loses to Arsenal, PSV is even already sure of the next round. The mutual result - after points - is leading and in favor of PSV.
Opponents from Spain
It has been some time since PSV last stepped off the pitch with three points after a UEFA Champions League encounter with a Spanish opponent. In the group stage of the 2003-2004 season, PSV 1 won at home against Deportivo La Coruña (3-2) through a winning goal by John de Jong in injury time.
The last away victory over a Spanish opponent in a European game dates back to the 2020-2021 season. Back then, PSV, led by former Head Coach Roger Schmidt, took on Granada CF. Donyell Malen then crowned himself gold medalist with the only goal of the match. Of the players who started in the starting lineup in that game, only Olivier Boscagli and Jordan Teze are still active at the club.
Top scorer Luuk
Luuk de Jong has proven to be important for PSV in European matches in the past. For example, he scored in the last game against RC Lens (1-0) and his tally of consecutive goals in European home games stands at six. If the center striker manages to find the net against the Spanish opponent, he can call himself the club's all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League. He currently shares that title with Ruud van Nistelrooij (8 goals).
