685 Days of Waiting: Juventus Seek Revenge with a Hat-Trick in PSV Eindhoven Showdown
Juventus Returns to Champions League with 3-1 Win Over PSV Eindhoven
Juventus, the first Italian football team, has made a triumphant return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. They defeated their Dutch guests PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in the first leg of the first round of the tournament.
The new format of the Champions League features an expanded participation of 36 teams, competing in a single group format. Each team will play eight matches against eight different teams, with four matches at home and four away. The top eight teams will qualify for the round of 16, while the next 16 teams will advance to the play-off round.
Juventus’ Winning Performance
Juventus secured their win just six minutes into the first half. Argentine player Nicolas Gonzalez added the third goal in the 52nd minute, while Moroccan substitute Ismail Sibari scored PSV’s only goal in the 90+3 minute.
This marks Juventus’ return to the tournament after an absence of 685 days, since their 1-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on November 2, 2022. Under their new coach Thiago Motta, Juventus has had a decent start in the league with two 3-0 wins, despite two negative draws.
Italian Clubs’ Dominance Over PSV Eindhoven
Italian clubs have maintained their superiority over PSV Eindhoven, with the latter failing to win in seven matches against them away from home in the Champions League. This record includes two draws and five defeats.
PSV Eindhoven, who were knocked out of the quarter-finals of the continental championship last season, failed to translate their local superiority into a win in the continental arena. Despite topping their country’s league with a perfect score of five wins, they were unable to secure a win against Juventus.
Youngest Player to Score in the Continental Championship
At 19 years and 136 days, Yıldız became the youngest player to score in the continental championship for Juventus, breaking Alessandro Del Piero’s record of 20 years and 308 days, according to Opta Stats.