PSV Eindhoven vs. Atletico Madrid: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Stream, TV Info
This might turn out to be one of the most overlooked ties of the round of 16, but Atletico Madrid should reasonably be considered as one of the favourites to reach the last four of the competition—provided they can rediscover their goalscoring threat.
Atletico's lack of goalscoring prowess is a frustrating restraint on them challenging on all fronts, given they have one of the best defences in Europe, a tactically versatile midfield and an entire squad which matches the intensity and resilience demanded by manager Diego Simeone.
"Jorrit Hendrix, PSV: "The fans give us a bit more energy & a boost. It's just an inferno when we play at home." #UCL pic.twitter.com/g50Kjei0i0
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 22, 2016"
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PSV won't be an opponent they take lightly, but Atletico are capable of beating Europe's best over two legs, thanks in no small part to the lack of clear chances they concede in the defensive half of the pitch.
Dutch legend Johan Cruyff has suggested that the Eredivisie team will find it hard to match Atletico physically, per FourFourTwo, with Simeone's team sure to defend with great resilience, press hard and counter-attack fast when they have the chance. Centre-back Diego Godin told UEFA.com his team were treating the match with the same manner and importance as any other:
"We are approaching it the same way as always, very seriously and knowing it will be pretty tough. Last season we managed to get past Bayer Leverkusen – people thought it would be easy for us but in this competition there are no easy opponents. On the contrary, all the teams that have made it into the last 16 have qualified because they did really well negotiating six matches successfully. This time we have to play PSV. They are a good team and they managed to progress from a tough group.
"
It might not turn out to be the round of 16 fixture which grabs the biggest headlines for high-scoring games, but that's exactly the type of setting Atletico thrive in: quietly progressing, impressing in their own time and making their way slowly toward another title challenge.
Date: Wednesday, 24 February
Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Philips Stadion, Eindhoven
TV Info: BT Sport 2 (UK), Fox Sports 2 USA, Fox Deportes (USA)
Live Stream: BT Sport Live Streaming (UK), Fox Soccer 2GO (USA)
The Teams
PSV head into the match on a good run of form, winning seven of their eight games since returning after the winter break. The only fixture lost in that run was in the cup, so they continue flying high in the Eredivisie itself, top by a point ahead of Ajax having only lost a single league game all campaign.
The big strength of PSV, domestically at least, has been in their front line; they're the highest scorers in the Dutch top flight with 56 in 24 games, with striker Luuk de Jong being the league's top individual scorer on 17.
A routine 2-0 win at the weekend against Heracles set them up nicely for the biggest game of PSV's season so far.
As for Atletico, they have been tough to beat all season long, but lacking in goals of late they have struggled to turn dominant spells into positive victories. Of their last seven games, Atleti have won only two, falling behind Barcelona in La Liga—they trail by eight points, though remain second—and being knocked out of the Copa del Rey.
Atleti's big strength is at the opposite end: just 11 conceded in 25 games means they have the joint-best defence in Europe's top five leagues, along with Bayern Munich, and an even better goals conceded-per-game rate than the Bundesliga side.
Diego Simeone's men drew 0-0 at the weekend against fourth-place Villarreal in La Liga.
Team News
Andres Guardado has been missing of late for PSV through a thigh issue, giving loan signing Marco van Ginkel a route into the team. ESPNFC report they the Mexican could return for the first leg, however. That aside, it has been a reasonably settled XI for PSV, with just the odd change for rotation and rest purposes, with a handful such as Adam Maher unable to get involved in the team at all in the past few weeks.
Four players have so far played all 540 minutes for PSV in the Champions League: goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet, both centre-backs and key midfielder Davy Propper. Left-back Joshua Brenet could come back into the side, but has recently fallen out of favour having been first-choice for most of the season.
Starting forward Luuk de Jong is suspended.
Atletico are without a few key starters, with midfielder Tiago still out injured after his broken leg from the end of 2015. Yannick Carrasco is also out with an ankle problem sustained recently, while fellow midfielders Thomas Partey and new signing Augusto Fernandez are also sidelined.
Jackson Martinez was sold after the European transfer window shut and so was not replaced in attack, leaving Atletico light on experienced goalscoring options.
"Squad List (1/2): Oblak, Moyá; Juanfran, Gámez, Godín, Lucas, Giménez, Savic, Filipe #PSVAtleti #UCL
— Atleti English (@atletienglish) February 22, 2016"
"Squad List (2/2): Gabi, Kranevitter, Augusto, Koke, Saúl, Óliver; Griezmann, Vietto, Correa y Torres #PSVAtleti #UCL #GoAtleti
— Atleti English (@atletienglish) February 22, 2016"
Possible Lineups
PSV (4-3-3): Jeroen Zoet; Santiago Arias, Jeffrey Bruma, Hector Moreno, Jetro Willems; Jorrit Hendrix, Davy Propper, Marco van Ginkel; Luciano Narsingh, Jurgen Locadia, Gaston Pereiro.
Atleti (4-4-2): Jan Oblak; Juanfran, Josema Gimenez, Diego Godin, Filipe Luis; Koke, Gabi, Saul, Oliver Torres; Fernando Torres, Antoine Griezmann.
Player to Watch: Jan Oblak, ATM
Atletico Madrid will be favourites over the two legs, but they will certainly not be heading into the first leg away from home and trying to end the match inside 90 minutes. Diego Simeone's men will be happy to sit deep and counter-attack when they can, trusting the defence to stay strong and get a feel for PSV in the early stages.
While Godin and Gimenez ahead of him will be near-impenetrable if close to their best form, goalkeeper Jan Oblak is an absolute study of concentration in games whether called into action or not.
He's athletic, nimble, strong aerially and extremely good in one-on-one situations—in short, he has everything needed to be a complete modern goalkeeper. By the end of Atletico's run in the Champions League this season he'll be acknowledged as one of the best around, so don't be surprised to see him have a defining impact on this first leg.
Prediction: PSV 0-0 Atletico
