PSV vs Sevilla

PSV Eindhoven’s Europa League dreams hang by a thread as they welcome Sevilla to the Philips Stadium, looking to overturn a massive 3-0 first-leg deficit.

It will take a comeback of epic proportions to rescue PSV’s effort to overcome what would be a club record deficit to progress, especially after an underwhelming 2-2 draw at Utrecht last weekend raised further questions over their current form. On a more positive note, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men have won two consecutive Europa League home matches by an aggregate score of 7-0, so the dream is still alive. A third straight European home triumph without conceding for the first time since 2009 seems the only way for PSV to turn things around here. But the ‘Peasants’ have found the task of eliminating Spanish rivals from European untenable, losing each of their last four knockout ties against La Liga clubs.

Meanwhile, four-time Europa League winners Sevilla head into proceedings safe in the knowledge that none of the last seven Spanish visitors to Eindhoven have suffered defeat (W4, D3). Yet a hard-earned 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano at the weekend contributed to Sevilla’s joint-worst 22-game start to a new La Liga season in the 21st century, highlighting the importance of making this Europa League campaign count. Even a two-goal margin defeat at PSV would suffice for now, especially considering ‘Los Rojiblancos’ are winless on their last nine European travels (D5, L4), drawing a blank in five of those games. Adding to their confidence, the Andalusian heavyweights have progressed from 22 of their 25 Europa League ties to date!