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November 4 2024, 00:21 · Alex Lawes

PSV vs Girona Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase

PSV vs Girona Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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It has been a magnificent start to the season domestically for PSV Eindhoven but they were beaten by Ajax at the weekend in Amsterdam as they look to bounce back against a Girona side that may well have rediscovered their attacking spark.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Tuesday 5th November, 2024 - UK – 5:45pm / US ET – 12:45pm / US PT – 9:45am

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

PSV PREVIEW: BOSZ-ING IT

In the Eredivisie, PSV Eindhoven have been bossing it for the last 15 months or so with Peter Bosz at the helm and his very attacking, often naïve, style of football. They began this season with ten successive victories but now come into this one on the back of suffering a thrilling 3-2 defeat to Ajax at the Johann Cruyff Arena.

In the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, they have put in some good performances and faced some tough opposition but are still searching for their first victory. They were beaten 3-1 by Juventus at the J Stadium before back-to-back 1-1 draws against Sporting CP and Paris Saint-Germain.

GIRONA PREVIEW: THE REBUILD OF GIRONA

Over the summer, after finishing their fifth ever La Liga season in third and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever, Girona endured a second successive summer in which they had to deal with key players being sold as Aleix Garcia, Savio and Artem Dovbyk were let go by the Catalans for big money.

Michel said it would be difficult for a variety of reasons this season and they have struggled in the opening couple of months. They put in an awkward performance against Leganes at the weekend but, in typically Girona fashion, did eventually enjoy an entertaining victory as they defeated the Madrid-based club by four goals to three. 

PSV TEAM NEWS: MIDFIELD ISSUES

PSV are dealing with key absentees in the middle of the pitch with Dutch internationals Joey Veerman and Jordy Schouten both unavailable for this one.

As well as the midfield pair being out, Adamo Nagalo is missing with a shoulder injury whilst United States international Sergino Dest is a doubt. 

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Benitez; Junior, Flamingo, Boscagli, Dams; Tillman, Saibari; Bakayoko, Til, Lang; De Jong

UNAVAILABLE: Veerman (Injured), Schouten (Injured), Nagalo (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Dest (Injured)

GIRONA TEAM NEWS: GIRONA’S INJURY CRISIS

Girona are dealing with several injury issues this weekend and have something of a ‘crisis’ such is the length of their injury list at both ends and through the spine of their team.

Pau Lopez is still sidelined alongside the likes of summer signings Yaser Asprilla and Abel Ruiz with Ukraine international Viktor Tsygankov also out injured. 

PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Gazzaniga; Lopez, Juanpe, Krejci; Martin, Martinez, Herrera, Gutierrez; Van de Beek, Danjuma; Stuani

UNAVAILABLE: Lopez (Injured), Artero (Injured), Frances (Injured), Solis (Injured), Nunez (Injured), Tsygankov (Injured), Asprilla (Injured), Ruiz (Injured), Portu (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Garcia (Injured)

KEY STATS

  • PSV are unbeaten in their last 11 UEFA competition matches at home (W7 D4). Since a 1-0 defeat against Rangers in the UEFA Champions League play-off round in August 2022.
  • PSV have not lost a competitive match at home since a 1-0 defeat against AZ on 12 November 2022 in the Dutch league.
  • PSV have won only two of their last 15 UEFA competition matches at home against Spanish teams (D8 L5). However, they are unbeaten in the last three such fixtures (W1 D2).
  • PSV have lost only one of their last eight UEFA Champions League group/league phase matches (W2 D5).
  • PSV have lost only three of their last 16 UEFA competition matches (W6 D7).
  • PSV have won only two of their last 25 matches in the UEFA Champions League competition proper (D12 L11).
  • This is Girona’s second match against a Dutch club, it is only their fourth fixture in their debut season in UEFA competition. They previously lost 3-2 at home against Feyenoord on Matchday 2, despite taking a 1-0 lead in the match.
  • Girona have scored two goals in each of their last two UEFA Champions League matches.
  • Girona have scored the first goal in their last two UEFA Champions League matches.

PSV VS GIRONA PREDICTION

As mentioned, PSV have been thrilling to watch throughout Peter Bosz’ reign in charge and they tend to put the foot down as they did against PEC Zwolle about ten days ago as they hammered them by six goals to nil. Girona won 4-3 at the weekend and have for the last two seasons since gaining promotion back to the top-flight been one of the most entertaining teams to watch in Spain. A high-scoring affair is to be expected for this one at the Philips Stadion. 

PSV VS GIRONA TIP: OVER 2.5 GOALS