PSV win their first UEFA Champions League match of the season against Girona
PSV won their first UEFA Champions League match of the season on Tuesday with a dominant performance against Girona. Goals from Ryan Flamingo, Malik Tillman, Johan Bakayoko, and an own goal from Ladislav Krejci resulted in an easy 4-0 win for Peter Bosz's side.
It was a welcome win for the Eindhovenaren, who were handed their first loss of the season in the Eredivisie on Sunday by Ajax. It was made easier when Girona was reduced to ten men in the 55th minute after a sending-off. PSV were already 2-0 up at the time.
Peter Bosz decided to drop Ismail Saibari after mentioning in the post-match press conference after the loss against Ajax on Saturday that he felt that the midfield struggled in the game. Mauro Junior, who started at left-back against Ajax, was moved to midfield.
The first chance of the match went to Girona. A long-distance shot from Ladislav Krejčí was palmed out by Walter Benitez before former Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek picked up the rebound and crossed it to Bojan Miovski, but the Macedonian’s effort hit the post via Benitez.
PSV broke the deadlock in the 16th minute. A long throw-in by Malik Tillman found center-back Ryan Flamingo, who bundled it home at the near post for his first-ever goal in the Champions League.
Girona was struggling to create chances as PSV started to dominate the match. Johan Bakayoko forced Paolo Gazzaniga into a save when he cut inside before shooting the ball low and hard to the far corner.
Peter Bosz’s side made it 2-0 after 32 minutes played. Tillman made up for his error which led to Ajax scoring the winning goal on Saturday, by smashing the ball home at the near post after dribbling into the box from the wing. The PSV supporters in the Philips stadium sang Tillman’s name in a show of support after the goal.
A beautiful attack from the home side led to an incredible miss from Luuk de Jong in the second half. Tillman was picked out by Rick Karsdorp with a terrific long pass, and the United States midfielder did everything right with his touch and pass to De Jong, but the experienced striker hit the post with the chance.
Girona were clearly outclassed, but their job became even more difficult when they were reduced to ten men in the 55th minute. Fullback Arnau Martinez took down Noa Lang while he was on a booking, which resulted in a second yellow.
De Jong came close again to getting on the scoresheet shortly after this when substitute Couhaib Driouch’s cross was deflected into him, but fortunately for Girona, it went straight to Gazzaniga.
The third goal would not come for PSV, as they missed another chance from close range when Karsdorp’s cross was headed across goal by De Jong to Til, who could not guide it home from close range. This was followed by a baffling decision from the English officials to disallow Ismail Saibari’s goal.
However, Bakayoko changed that in the 84th minute. The Belgian winger received a short corner before cutting inside onto his favored left foot and hitting the near post with a low-driven shot.
The 4-0 came in the 88th minute. A shot from Saibari was saved by Gazzaniga but was inadvertently deflected into the goal by Krejci.
The victory put the Eindhovenaren in a spot for the play-off round. However, almost every team had played a match less in the competition.
