Juventus emerged victorious in the first leg of their Champions League play-off against PSV Eindhoven, but the 2-1 scoreline leaves room for doubt. The Bianconeri showed glimpses of dominance but also struggled with inconsistency, allowing their opponents to stay in contention.
Thiago Motta’s side started strong, pressing high and creating early chances. The breakthrough came when Gatti aggressively won the ball high up the pitch, inadvertently setting up McKennie, who finished clinically. Juventus controlled the tempo and looked close to doubling their lead, finally doing so in the second half when Mbangula capitalized on a deflection from Benitez after a dangerous cross by Conceiçao.
Just as Juve seemed in full control, they slowed down, giving PSV an opening. The Dutch side, previously uninspired, took advantage of a defensive lapse as Perisic punished a mistake and slotted past Di Gregorio at the near post. The goal rattled Juventus, who suddenly appeared hesitant, allowing their opponents to gain confidence.
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Mbangula restored Juve’s advantage, but the margin remains slim. While PSV struggled for long stretches, Juve’s lack of composure raises concerns ahead of the return leg in Eindhoven. The second leg will demand a more assured performance if the Bianconeri want to secure their place in the next round.
