Juventus Relinquished Command to PSV, Resulting in Their Elimination from Champions League
With a 2-1 upper hand from the earlier leg, Juventus set foot in the Philips Stadion, aiming to complete their UEFA Champions League Playoff against PSV. However, Juve's aspirations of progressing were crushed by an energetic PSV side, *cough* Peter Bosz's *cough* dynamic team.
The home side boasted an unbeaten streak since November 2022, a record they successfully defended in this tough encounter. Their 3-1 victory sealed a 4-3 aggregate triumph, sending Juventus packing from the competition.
Juventus entered this tie following four consecutive victories, breaking a record in the Thiago Motta era. Their latest win came against Inter in a fiery match analyzed meticulously in our last column.
Sick and tired of injuries
The Bianconeri were once again plagued by injuries. Joining the growing list of absentees were Bremer, Cabal, Kalulu, and Savona. The latter only made the bench due to a minor issue, leaving Lloyd Kelly to start at left back.
Alas, the sticky fingers of fate weren't done with Juve yet. Veiga—who'd started brightly post-Juve—suffered an injury just 12 minutes into the game, limping off after an innocuous challenge.
Cambiaso's sharp performance
After Veiga's departure, Motta brought on Cambiaso on the left, with Kelly moving into the center. Cambiaso quickly regained his composure and displayed his class by forcing a fine save from the goalkeeper after a superior pass from Locatelli. His defensive prowess was evident too, as he calmly controlled a testing cross from Lang, preventing a potential goal.
The comeback that was not to be
The second half saw PSV reinvigorated, pushing Juve back and forcing erratic save after erratic save from the Juve keeper. Former Inter winger Perisic unleashed a warning shot, while Lang sent a close-range effort narrowly past the post.
It was the same duo that combined brilliantly for the opening goal, with Lang juking his way past defenders and setting up Perisic for a neat finish. Lang's personal tally against Juve now stands at six goals in 18 appearances.
The Old Lady showed resilience, equalizing through Tim Weah's stunning effort. However, they soon started to wilt under PSV's relentless pressure, eventually conceding a second goal through Saibari.
Motta's questionable substitutions
Motta responded to Juve's difficulties by bringing on Savona, Thuram, and Yildiz, replacing Conceição and Koopmeiners. While the former two made sense, removing the influential Locatelli was tough to stomach.
Locatelli had been monumental in midfield, recording one tackle, two interceptions, and three clearances. His intelligent passing had also provided valuable options for Juve. Losing him severely weakened Juve's midfield, allowing PSV to seize control.
Guus Til and Tyrell Malacia began creating chances for Saibari, as Di Gregorio showcased his heroics to deny Lang. Finally, a clever PSV set piece proved decisive, allowing Bakayoko to create a goalscoring opportunity. Di Gregorio managed to keep the ball out initially, but Ryan Flamingo capitalized on the second chance to send Juve spiraling into extra time.
Despite Juve's best efforts, they could not defy the odds and were eventually eliminated, leaving Inter as the only Italian side remaining in the competition.
This devastating defeat saw Juventus returning to leverage their efforts into securing a top-four finish, with their next encounter against Cagliari waiting in the wings.
*Disclaimer: The above information on the outcome of the actual match was not included in the original article and has been added for contextual clarity.*
- Despite their 2-1 lead from the first leg, Juventus struggled against PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League Playoff, with PSV eventually securing a 4-3 aggregate victory.
- Juventus had entered the match following a series of victories, breaking a record in the Thiago Motta era, but were ultimately undone by injuries and questionable substitutions.
- Bremer, Cabal, Kalulu, and Savona were among the Juventus players missing due to injuries, while Veiga suffered an injury just 12 minutes into the game against PSV.
- Motta's decision to replace Locatelli in midfield was met with controversy, as the influential player had been instrumental in controlling the game with his tackles, interceptions, and clearances.
- PSV's resurgence in the second half saw them reclaim control of the game, with Perisic and Lang combining for the opening goal and later assisting in a second goal through Saibari.
- With their Champions League hopes dashed, Juventus turned their attention to securing a top-four finish in Serie A, beginning with a match against Cagliari.
