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Juventus have lost only four games all season across all competitions, making them a formidable foe for PSV Eindhoven.
PSV did finish well above the Old Lady in the League Phase, but appearances can be deceiving. That gap from 14th to 20th was by a matter of two points, with the Eredivisie side managing to pick up just one more victory than their upcoming Italian opponents.
Of the Dutch side’s two losses in the opening stage, one result sticks out: a 3-1 defeat to Juventus on Matchday 1.
Granted, that was at the Allianz Stadium, and September feels like a lifetime ago, but it certainly feels significant.
PSV’s victories came over Girona, Shakhtar Donetsk, Crvena zvezda, and a second-string Liverpool side. None of those teams, aside from table-toppers Liverpool, made it to the knockout playoffs.
Juventus, meanwhile, got a 2-0 home victory over Manchester City among their eight League Phase fixtures. The Citizens are far below their formidable best, but it’s still a notable win that PSV can’t really match.
The addition of Randal Kolo Muani has also given the Old Lady a new dimension, with the 26-year-old grabbing five goals in just three appearances after making a loan switch from PSG. This gives the Italian side the edge in what will still be a competitive matchup.
Prediction: It’ll be close, and PSV might earn a draw at home, but Juventus will remain in the competition.
