Juventus 2-1 PSV: Late Mbangula strike gives hosts first-leg lead

Samuel Mbangula came off the bench to score with eight minutes left as Juventus edged PSV 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Tuesday.

The Belgian pounced on a loose ball after a save from PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez to finish from close range in Turin, ensuring Juve will take the advantage into next week’s return leg in Eindhoven.

The two sides had met each other in their league phase opener earlier in the season, with the Italians coming out as 3-1 winners.

It was once again Thiago Motta’s side who began brightly as Federico Gatti’s cross created a pinball inside the box before Weston McKennie’s thunderous strike from the edge of the box gave the hosts the opener in the 34th minute.

However, the visitors found a way back into the game as Ivan Perisic, who turned 36 this month, fired a low drive to beat Michele Di Gregorio at his near post to make it 1-1 only 10 minutes into the second half.

However, Mbangula’s late strike handed the lead to Juventus late on with the tie set for an exciting climax in the Netherlands to decide who among them will progress to the last 16 of the competition.

Job’s half done
Together towards the next one #JuvePSV [2-1] #UCL pic.twitter.com/V1XAQTQLgp

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) February 11, 2025

Data Debrief: A battle between young and old

The Champions League meeting in Turin was a meeting between young blood and experience, with the former triumphing this time.

At 27 years and 259 days, PSV fielded their oldest starting 11 in a Champions League match since September 2004 (27 years and 282 days against Arsenal) and their oldest ever in a knockout match in the competition.

Meanwhile, Juventus had their youngest-ever starting 11 for a Champions League knockout tie, with an average age of 25 years and 172 days.

In fact, nine of their youngest line-ups in the competition have all come in their nine matches this season.

Perisic, with his first goal in 19 Champions League appearances, became the oldest PSV player to score in the competition at the age of 36 years and nine days.