Champions League | League Stage

Nov 27, 2024 at 8pm UK

Philips Stadion

PSVvs.Shakhtar

Match preview

PSV are on a roll! Peter Bosz's side beat Groningen 5-0 at the weekend, their first game back after the international break.

That means they're still five points ahead of Utrecht at the top of the league, with four wins in five, and 20 goals scored in that time. Next up for PSV is Utrecht after this European match.

For now, though, all eyes and focus will be on the Champions League, with PSV sitting in 24th place, just outside the final knockout stage spot.

The Dutch side has had a respectable start, despite some tough games against Sporting Lisbon and Paris Saint-Germain. They were able to hold both teams to draws, which is a good result given that their opening match against Juventus ended in defeat.

In their first game as the clear favourites in the Champions League this season, Bosz's men thrashed Girona 4-0 last time out. They now have the chance to win two back-to-back UCL games for just the second time in seven seasons.

That win against the competition debutants moved them up to five points at the halfway stage. If they can get another five points in their final four games, they should be able to sneak through.

Given that PSV are unbeaten in 12 matches at home, it's reasonable to expect three points here. That's their best run in over 12 years.

If PSV are to keep up their recent run of form against Ukrainian clubs, they'll need to improve on their previous results against Shakhtar. PSV have lost three of their last four matches against clubs from the country.

PSV often do well against similar-level sides because they've been unbeaten in their last 10 matches in this competition against clubs who've never featured in a final.

Shakhtar manager Marino Pusic will be looking to put an end to that run when he returns to his adopted homeland here, fresh off the back of a 2-1 win over Young Boys on matchday four, which has finally got their campaign up and running.

After only managing two shots on target in their first three UCL games, it was no surprise that Shakhtar failed to score. However, they had six against Young Boys on their way to a well-deserved win, which has brought them back into contention to advance.

In all competitions, that result has contributed to a run of five straight wins, which they extended to six thanks to a 6-0 defeat of Inhulets at the weekend.

All of those five matches were at home, though, and Pusic's side haven't won any of their previous two as the designated away team. They lost at Arsenal and drew with Dynamo Kyiv, who are six points ahead of them domestically.

With Bayern Munich, Brest and Borussia Dortmund still to come in their final three games, Shakhtar will have to pull off a surprise somewhere if they want to compete for the top 24. A win here might be necessary.

It's going to be tough for Shakhtar when you consider that they've only won two of their last 14 away games in Europe and lost three of their last four trips to the Netherlands.

Recent Performance

PSV Eindhoven Champions League form:LDDW

PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions):DWLWWW

Shakhtar Donetsk Champions League form:DLLW

Shakhtar Donetsk form (all competitions):DWWWWW

Team News

PSV are set to be without Luuk de Jong once again here with a minor muscle injury, but that should be no problem if Ricardo Pepi can continue his incredible form.

Pepi's on a roll! He scored a hat trick in the win over Groningen at the weekend. That means he's now scored 10 goals in his last six starts for club and country. He's set to lead the line again.

Armando Obispo and Hirving Lozano were both back in action at the weekend, but Jerdy Schouten and Joey Veerman are still out, and it's not clear if Sergino Dest will be fit to play.

There are no first-team injuries for Shakhtar at the moment. It's thought that Pedrinho's absence from the squad at the weekend was just precautionary.

If Pedrinho does come back, the Shakhtar defence will look a lot different from the one that faced Inhulets on Sunday. Mykola Matviienko and Yukhym Konoplya were also kept in reserve ahead of this one and should start.

Eguinaldo started in the win over Young Boys on matchday four and looks set to return to the XI here after scoring twice off the bench in the win over Inhulets.

Possible starting lineup

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Karsdorp, Flamingo, Boscagli, Dams; Til, Mauro Jr, Tillman; Bakayoko, Pepi, Lang

Shakhtar Donetsk possible starting lineup:

Riznyk; Konoplya, Bondar, Matviienko, Pedrinho; Bondarenko, Kryskiv, Sudakov; Zubkov, Eguinaldo, Kevin