PSV Eindhoven new boy Lucas Perez will be denied a reunion with former club Arsenal when his side welcome the Gunners to the Philips Stadion for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.
The veteran Spanish striker recently joined the Eredivisie giants as a free agent, but he has not been included in PSV’s Champions League squad list due to clubs only being permitted to make three changes between the league and knockout phases.
As Perez watches on from afar, another experienced centre-forward in Luuk de Jong will spearhead the charge on what will be his 50th Champions League appearance, a tally only four previous Dutch strikers have hit (Robin van Persie, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Patrick Kluivert and Roy Makaay).
De Jong will no doubt be flanked by exciting wide duo Johan Bakayoko and Noa Lang, while Ismael Saibari should win his head-to-head with Guus Til to start in the number 10 position.
Saibari occupied a deeper role in Saturday’s shock 3-2 Eredivisie loss to Go Ahead Eagles, but Peter Bosz should now bring Joey Veerman in alongside Jerdy Schouten for more defensive stability.
As left-back Mauro Junior is uncertain due to a bone bruise, Manchester United-owned Tyrell Malacia will likely link arms with Olivier Boscagli, Ryan Flamingo and Richard Ledezma ahead of Walter Benitez.
Malik Tillman (leg), Ricardo Pepi (knee) and teenage winger Esmir Bajraktarevic (unspecified) make up a trio of injury-related absentees for Tuesday’s hosts.
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Ledezma, Flamingo, Boscagli, Malacia; Veerman, Schouten; Bakayoko, Saibari, Lang; De Jong
> Click here to see how Arsenal could line up for the first leg
No Data Analysis info
