PSV take on the visitors Arsenal in the first leg of UEFA Champions League round of 1/8-finals. The match will be played on Tuesday, March 4th at Philips Stadium (Eindhoven).
PSV's European success stands out amid domestic struggles. Boeren are one of the all-time giants of Dutch football. However, it was the return of Peter Bosz in 2022 that reignited their trophy ambitions, leading to a Super Cup triumph followed by a first-place finish in the Eredivisie. This season, however, has been far more challenging—after losing the Super Cup to Feyenoord despite dominating the game, their form in the Dutch league collapsed, squandering a once-comfortable lead. In fact, Ajax has now pulled ahead in the title race. Yet, in the Champions League, PSV showed resilience—after collecting just two points from their first three matches, they won four consecutive games to reach the knockout stage. Their comeback against Shakhtar, overturning a 0-2 deficit in the last 10 minutes, was particularly remarkable. In the Round of 16, they lost 1-2 in Turin but forced extra time in the second leg with a stoppage-time goal from Flamingo, eventually advancing. Despite their league struggles, PSV’s fighting spirit in Europe has made them a dangerous opponent on the continental stage.
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Arsenal have made significant strides under Mikel Arteta. In recent seasons, they have emerged as Manchester City’s primary challengers, but Arteta has consistently found himself trailing behind his former mentor, Pep Guardiola, including in last year’s title race. This time, however, City has hit an extended slump, seemingly out of contention. Yet, instead of seizing the moment, Liverpool has taken the lead, proving even harder to catch. Arsenal has already exited both domestic cup competitions, suffering a pair of defeats to Newcastle, including in the EFL Cup semifinals. As a result, the Champions League has become an even greater priority for Arteta and his squad. While they struggled against Italian sides—drawing 0-0 at home against Atalanta and losing 0-1 away to Inter—they won all their remaining group-stage matches, securing direct qualification to the Round of 16. With no domestic cups left to play for, Arsenal can now afford to go all-in on their Champions League ambitions.
These clubs have faced each other since 2002, playing 10 matches in total. Arsenal holds the advantage with four wins against two defeats. Last season, in the Champions League group stage, the Gunners took four points out of six against PSV. The visitors are rightly considered favorites, even in Eindhoven. Expect an Arsenal away victory.
Prediction for the match: Arsenal to win.
