PSV Eindhoven vs Borussia Dortmund predictions: PSV to edge first leg
- PSV lead the Eredivisie table by 10 points
- Dortmund are fourth in Bundesliga
- Recommended bet: PSV Eindhoven to win
PSV Eindhoven are enjoying a fantastic season so far and they can fuel their dreams of advancing further in the Champions League by earning a first-leg win over Borussia Dortmund in the last 16.
The Dutch giants are sitting pretty domestically, 10 points clear of reigning champions Feyenoord, and remain unbeaten in the Eredivisie, winning 20 of their 22 games.
Experienced European campaigners Dortmund will provide a stiff test in the knockout stage, though, after they finished top of a very difficult Group F ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle.
Team news
PSV have Richard Ledezma, Jaden De Guzman and CJ Egan-Riley as new additions to their Champions League squad since the group stage.
Armel Bella-Kotchap's return from a shoulder injury is being carefully managed so he may only make the bench, while Guus Til is set to be ruled out for the hosts.
Dortmund's squad has been boosted by the return of Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United, while Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Ian Maatsen are the other new names on their Champions League roster.
Sebastien Haller picked up an ankle injury when helping Ivory Coast win the Africa Cup of Nations so he is a doubt, Felix Nmecha is struggling with a hip injury and Ramy Bensebaini and Karim Adeyemi will be given late fitness tests.
The stats
PSV manager Peter Bosz left Ajax to take charge of Borussia Dortmund in June 2017 but lasted just six months in the job.
Captain Luuk de Jong has scored 27 goals in 34 appearances in total for PSV this season.
PSV finished second in Group B, with a record of two wins, three draws and one defeat.
Dortmund topped Group F thanks to three wins, two draws and one defeat.
The two clubs last faced each other competitively in the 2002-03 Champions League group stage when BVB won 3-1 away and the other fixture in Germany ended 1-1.
Prediction
PSV's stunning form this season means they will go into this tie with plenty of confidence and they will be keen to defend their proud unbeaten home record in the competition so far.
At the Philips Stadion, Bosz's side beat Sturm Graz and Rangers to reach the group stage before draws with Sevilla and Arsenal at home and a narrow win over Lens helped them qualify for the last 16.
They began the group with a rare off night when losing to Arsenal 4-0 at the Emirates but that has long been forgotten thanks to their impressive progress in the competition since and their dominant position in the Dutch top flight.
PSV went on an Eredivisie record-equalling run of 17 straight wins from the start of the season and come into the first leg on the back of successive league wins over Volendam, who they hammered 5-1, and Heracles, who they saw off 2-0 on Friday.
Dortmund are unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions but they have drawn five of those matches, including Saturday's 1-1 result at Wolfsburg, which left them nine points behind familiar foes Bayern Munich in second place in the table and 17 adrift of leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
It will likely be a tight and tense first leg but PSV can edge it to give themselves a great chance of making the last eight for the first time since 2007.
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