The Conference League knockout phase is already here as Maccabi faces a tough and interesting hurdle. Maccabi face Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven for a double headed tie as shortly before the first leg at the Philips stadium the time has come to dive in and get to know our opponents.
The Eindhoven based club, who are one of Holland’s powerhouses, won the last of their 24 league Championships in the 2017/18 season. PSV also won 9 Dutch Cups and a record 12 Johan Cruyff Shields (Super Cup) but their well decorated trophy room doesn’t only feature domestic silverware.
PSV won the UEFA Cup which is known today as the Europa league in (1977/78) after a victory over Bastia in the final which took place over two legs. Ten years later, (1987/88) PSV added the most lucrative club trophy as they required a penalty shoot-out to beat Benfica of Portugal at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart to win the European Cup currently known as the UEFA Champions League.
Some of the world’s household names such as Bobby Robson, Guus Hiddink, Dick Advocaat, Eric Gerets, Ronald Koeman, Phillip Cocu and Mark van Bommel guided PSV prior to Roger Schmidt who took-over as coach in April 2020.
Until recently, PSV were neck and neck with Ajax in the race for the Dutch league title, but despite losing some pace, a 5-0 victory over Eli Dasa’s Vitesse at the weekend proved they are back in form.
PSV began their European season in the Champions League qualifiers and advanced past Turkey’s Galatasaray and Midtjiland of Norway but missed out on qualification after being knocked by Benfica in the Play off round. They reached the Conference League knockout phase after finishing 3rd in their Europa League group that included Monaco, Sturm Graz and a point adrift of Spanish side Real Sociedad that finished in the runners up spot.
Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven has been enjoying a close affiliation to Israeli football since September 2020 when former Maccabi forward Eran Zahavi joined the club. Currently ranked second in the Eredivsie table with 49 points from 22 league matches, PSV who are coached by Roger Schmidt, are five points adrift of league leaders Ajax.
The Eindhoven based club, who are one of Holland’s powerhouses, won the last of their 24 league Championships in the 2017/18 season. PSV also won 9 Dutch Cups and a record 12 Johan Cruyff Shields (Super Cup) but their well decorated trophy room doesn’t only feature domestic silverware.
PSV won the UEFA Cup which is known today as the Europa league in (1977/78) after a victory over Bastia in the final which took place over two legs. Ten years later, (1987/88) PSV added the most lucrative club trophy as they required a penalty shoot-out to beat Benfica of Portugal at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart to win the European Cup currently known as the UEFA Champions League.
Some of the world’s household names such as Bobby Robson, Guus Hiddink, Dick Advocaat, Eric Gerets, Ronald Koeman, Phillip Cocu and Mark van Bommel guided PSV prior to Roger Schmidt who took-over as coach in April 2020.
Until recently, PSV were neck and neck with Ajax in the race for the Dutch league title, but despite losing some pace, a 5-0 victory over Eli Dasa’s Vitesse at the weekend proved they are back in form.
PSV began their European season in the Champions League qualifiers and advanced past Turkey’s Galatasaray and Midtjiland of Norway but missed out on qualification after being knocked by Benfica in the Play off round. They reached the Conference League knockout phase after finishing 3rd in their Europa League group that included Monaco, Sturm Graz and a point adrift of Spanish side Real Sociedad that finished in the runners up spot.
Ivory Coast international Ibrahim Sangare as the 24-year-old defensive midfielder who joined in 2020 from French outfit Toulouse is PSV’s anchor-man. In goal however Joel Drommel and and Ivon Mvogo of Switzerland are fighting for the number one jersey. Who will be handed the gloves in a bid to hold Maccabi’s players at bay at the Philips stadium that could hold only 33% of its 35,000 capacity – time will tell.
Roger Schmidt, who coached Beijing Guoan between 2017-2019 was well aware of Eran Zahavi’s qualities from their time in China. There is no surprise the German coach opts to name Zahavi as his striker but an injury the Israeli suffered from that side-lined him for several weeks, saw Brazilian, Carlos Vinicius who joined on loan from Benfica and Maximiliano Romero of Argentina challenge Israel’s top striker for his place. Mario Gotze who scored 9 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions this season is also a force to be reckoned with as the diminutive German scored the winning goal for Germany in the 2014 World Cup Final against Argentina.
In the past, PSV were decorated by phenomenal strikers such as Romario, Ronaldo, Wim Kieft, Ruud Gullit, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Luc Nillis, Mateja Kezman, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Eidor Gudjohnsen. On the wings PSV also had famous players from Gerald Vaneburg to Arjen Robben, Park Ji-sung, Dennis Rommedahl, Ibrahim Afellay and Jefferson Farfan. 22-year-old Cody Gakpo appears to be PSV’s new future prospect as the left footed winger who is a product of the PSV academy already managed this season 12 goals and 13 assists in 31 appearances in all competitions. 19-year-old Noni Madueke is also someone to watch as the English born winger who recently recovered from an injury will compete for a place with Ritsu Doan of Japan.
Ivory Coast international Ibrahim Sangare as the 24-year-old defensive midfielder who joined in 2020 from French outfit Toulouse is PSV’s anchor-man. In goal however Joel Drommel and and Ivon Mvogo of Switzerland are fighting for the number one jersey. Who will be handed the gloves in a bid to hold Maccabi’s players at bay at the Philips stadium that could hold only 33% of its 35,000 capacity – time will tell.
