PSV Eindhoven vs. Legia Warsaw: Mertens and Ljuboja to battle – UEFA Europa League preview
PSV Eindhoven will commence their UEFA Europa League campaign when they take on Legia Warsaw at Philips Stadion on Thursday, September 15.
PSV Eindhoven
The Boeren finished third in the Eredivisie last term and earned direct qualification to play in Europe’s secondary club competition. Although PSV were the favourites to become the Dutch champions throughout the 2010/11 campaign, their poor performances
in the final weeks cost them the league title and a chance to participate in UEFA Champions League.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fred-c14136 Rutten, PSV head coach, has warned his side about their impressive opponents and has urged his troops to give their 100 percent on the pitch to claim all three points.
“We must be wary of Legia's threat on the counterattack. We are favourites to bag all three points at home, but Legia Warsaw are an experienced side with a physical style of play. We should be warned as they have knocked out Spartak Moscow. We would very
much like to seal all three points in our opening game”, Rutten was quoted as saying to the media.
Legia Warsaw
Wojskowi finished third in the Polish Ekstraklasa table last term and had to participate in the play-offs round to secure a place in Europe’s secondary club competition. The Polish outfit managed to defeat Spartak Moscow 5-4 on aggregate in the two-legged
encounter.
Maciej Skorża, Wojskowi manager, will have to do without the services of his star strikers http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dickson-Choto-c11026 are also doubtful to participate in this match.
Nonetheless, the Polish trainer seems confident of achieving a good result in this difficult away encounter.
“We should not lose such a meeting. The game with the Dutch falls between the Podbeskidzie match and the Warsaw derby - our calendar is very tight, so we must look very carefully at every opponent”, Korza said while talking to the journalists.
Players to watch
Dries Mertens – PSV Eindhoven
The Belgian winger is in tremendous form this season. In just five league games so far this season, he has scored seven goals while also providing four assists. The 24-year-old will certainly prove to be a menace on the left flank due to his ability to direct
pinpoint crosses into the box.
Furthermore, his ability to score goals from range makes him one of the key players for the Boeren should they bag all three points in this home fixture.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Danijel-Ljuboja-c10147 – Legia Warsaw
The visitors will have to rely upon the 33-year-old to score goals if they have any intentions to secure a point or more in this encounter. The veteran striker has so far scored four goals in four league matches and looks in fine form.
Probable line-up
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jeremain-Lens-c18323.
Legia Warsaw: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cabral-c8232, Iñaki, Rybus; Ljuboja
Predictions
It will be an interesting battle between the two sides. However, the Eindhoven giants have many match winners in their squad that puts them in the driving seat for this encounter. The match will end in a 3-1 win in favour of PSV.
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