Champions League: Juventus Triumphs Over PSV, PSG Dominates Brest in Play-off First Leg
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Synopsis
Juventus clinched a 2-1 win over PSV Eindhoven in their UEFA Champions League play-off first leg. Weston McKennie and Samuel Mbangula scored for Juve, while Ivan Perisic equalized for PSV. Meanwhile, PSG triumphed 3-0 against Brest with Ousmane Dembele scoring twice.
Key Takeaways
- Juventus leads 2-1 against PSV Eindhoven in the first leg.
- Weston McKennie and Samuel Mbangula scored for Juve.
- Ivan Perisic equalized for PSV Eindhoven.
- PSG defeated Brest 3-0 with Ousmane Dembele's double.
- Second leg of Juventus vs. PSV on February 19.
Rome, Feb 12 (NationPress) Juventus seized the advantage in the UEFA Champions League play-offs, securing a 2-1 victory against PSV Eindhoven in the initial leg at home on Wednesday (IST).
Juve finished 20th in the league phase and entered the play-offs as the unseeded team, while PSV was positioned 14th. These teams had previously clashed in the league stage, where Juve emerged victorious with a score of 3-1.
The Bianconeri displayed an aggressive approach during the match, taking the lead in the 34th minute. Following a blocked cross from Federico Gatti, he regained possession and chested the ball to Weston McKennie, who unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box.
PSV equalized in the 56th minute when Ivan Perisic, a former Inter Milan player, controlled the ball in the box, evading Lloyd Kelly with a deft touch before scoring with a low strike.
Juve restored their lead in the 82nd minute; Francisco Conceicao sprinted down the right flank, and his cross was parried into the path of Samuel Mbangula, who calmly scored from close range.
The Bianconeri are set to visit Eindhoven on February 19 for the second leg, aiming to secure their spot in the next round.
"This win is just the first step; in the second leg, we need to deliver a strong performance to advance to the Round of 16. Dynamism is crucial to our game, and we must maintain a high level of intensity, which we definitely need to improve on," commented Juve coach Thiago Motta.
Earlier, Ousmane Dembele continued his excellent form, scoring twice to place Paris Saint Germain in a commanding position in their all-French match against Brest. Vitinha opened the scoring by converting an early penalty awarded for handball.
Dembele extended the lead with a powerful shot right before half-time and added his tenth goal in the last four games, sealing a convincing 3-0 victory for Luis Enrique's team.
