In the playoff round for the knockout phase of the Europa League, PSV will take on Spanish side Sevilla FC. In the away game, they will try to create a good starting position for the home game at Philips Stadium a week later.
Group stage
Arsenal, FC Zurich and FK Bodø/Glimt were PSV's opponents in the group stage of the Europa League. Together they formed group A. With thirteen points gained, PSV finished second in the group and a playoff round for the knockout phase awaited. This is the first season that such an intermediate stage exists.
Difficult against Spanish opponents
PSV won only 5 of its 34 European duels against Spanish clubs (W5-G13-V16). Especially in recent years, the ratio is not in PSV's favor. Of the last 14 matches, PSV won one. This was a 0-1 win at Granada in the group stage of the Europa League (Dec. 3, 2020).
Europa League superpower
Sevilla FC won the Europa League a total of six times. This makes it the prize Rojiblancos won most often. This happened in 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020. No other club managed this more than three times.
Victories
Only one of PSV's last eight European away games was lost (W3-G4-V1). This was in the game against Arsenal when Mikel Arteta's team was just too strong 1-0. That was the only defeat in the group stage this season (W4-G1-V1).
Reunion for Luuk
For captain Luuk de Jong, the game against Sevilla will be a reunion with many. He played two seasons in Sevilla. There he is best known for the heroic role he played in the 2020 Europa League final. Sevilla took on Internazionale. Thanks to two header goals by Luuk, the cup went to southern Spain.
Top scorer
Joey Veerman is PSV's European top scorer this season with five goals. He managed to find the net both at home and away in the Champions League qualifiers against AS Monaco. In the group stage of the Europa League he scored twice against FC Zurich and against Arsenal.
