PSV Earn Respectable Draw In Paris Champions League Encounter

PSV Eindhoven battled their way to a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain in an intense UEFA Champions League match on Tuesday night. Despite missing key players, PSV’s determined performance saw them claim an important point in Paris, holding off a relentless PSG side that dominated much of the game.

PSV, without injured midfielders Jerdy Schouten and Joey Veerman, were forced to field a makeshift midfield trio of Malik Tillman, Ismael Saibari, and Guus Til. Despite the reshuffled lineup, the Dutch side weathered early pressure from PSG.

PSG’s first clear chance came in the 10th minute when Bradley Barcola latched onto a long ball but fired wide. Ten minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé came close to giving the home side the lead, only to see his effort crash against the crossbar. Dembélé’s struggles in front of goal continued as he missed a one-on-one opportunity just before the half-hour mark, sending his volley over the bar.

Despite PSG’s dominance, it was PSV who broke the deadlock. Olivier Boscagli intercepted a misplaced pass from João Neves, and the ball found its way to Noa Lang, who expertly cut inside and fired a low shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma into the near corner in the 34th minute, giving PSV a surprise 1-0 lead.

PSG equalised early in the second half. A well-worked short corner led to Achraf Hakimi firing a shot that squeezed through the legs of PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez, a mistake that allowed PSG to draw level in the 55th minute.

Intense fight 🥵#PSGPSV #UCL pic.twitter.com/vkeeehE51H

— PSV (@PSV) October 22, 2024

Although PSG continued to press for a winner, it was PSV who almost took the lead again. Luuk de Jong’s aerial dominance created a chance for Til, who found himself in a two-on-one situation with Lang. However, Til’s hesitation allowed PSG captain Marquinhos to intercept and clear the danger.

The final minutes of the match were filled with drama. PSG were awarded a penalty in stoppage time after referee Glenn Nyberg judged that Boscagli had fouled Marco Asensio. However, after consulting the video assistant referee (VAR), the decision was reversed, much to PSV’s relief. Benitez redeemed himself for his earlier error with a crucial save, denying Marquinhos’ powerful header from a corner in the dying moments.

Despite PSG’s dominance, PSV managed to hold on for a valuable point, leaving them still searching for their first win in this season’s Champions League. The Dutch champions currently sit in 27th place in the 36-team standings, with PSG in 17th. PSV will have another chance to secure a win when they face Girona at home in their next Champions League fixture on November 5th.

Site Opinion

This match highlighted PSV’s resilience against a formidable Paris Saint-Germain side. Despite missing key players and facing relentless pressure, PSV showcased a solid defensive effort, particularly in the closing stages. Walter Benitez’s performance was a tale of two halves, with his error allowing PSG to equalise, but his late save from Marquinhos ensured PSV left Paris with a point.

For PSG, the match was one of frustration. Despite creating numerous chances, their inability to finish cost them dearly. Ousmane Dembélé, in particular, had a night to forget, missing two clear opportunities. PSG will need to find more consistency in their finishing if they hope to progress further in the competition. As for PSV, their next home match against Girona presents a golden opportunity to secure their first Champions League victory of the season.