The Champions League is back, baby! This is a pretty nice match to kick the group stage off, with Manchester United making their return to Europe’s top competition to face PSV Eindhoven, the defending Dutch champions and a pretty dang good team in their own right.
Manchester United vs. PSV Eindhoven, Champions League 2015: Time, TV schedule and team news
Memphis Depay is getting a Champions League homecoming against his old club.
It’s the first match of what should be a tricky group B, with Manchester and PSV dueling with Wolfsburg and CSKA Moscow for two spots in the knockout rounds. That looks like a close group, so both teams will be looking for a first-round win in order to get an early advantage in the standings. PSV will hope that their homefield advantage will be enough to neutralize Manchester United’s talent edge, and we’ve all seen over the years that anything can happen in the Champions League. There’s every reason to expect that this match will be fun, and this result could have some heavy significance come the end of the group stage.
Key player: Memphis Depay (Manchester United)
Hey PSV fans: he’s baaaaaaaack! Except instead of making a triumphant return to the PSV squad after a long and successful career abroad, Depay is coming back with his new team just a few months after leaving in order to stomp the stuffing out of you. So enjoy that. Really. Hope it’s fun.
But seriously, Depay could be a key figure in this match. Returns to your boyhood club are never easy, especially when you only just left. With the significant stakes of a Champions League group stage match, Depay can’t let the emotions of the moment get to him -- too many players have had a miserable night during a homecoming match like this. If his head is screwed on straight and he focuses, Depay could return to the Phillips Stadion with a monstrous performance.
Key Matchup: Luuk de Jong (PSV Eindhoven) vs. Chris Smalling (Manchester United)
Luuk de Jong has been on fire for PSV so far this season, with five goals in five matches in the Eredivisie. Of course, a Champions League match against Manchester United is a much different animal than your typical Eredivisie battle, so he’ll need to turn things up another notch in order to help his team out. Lining up against him is Chris Smalling, who’s been the weak link at times in his Manchester United career, but has looked much stronger this season. That strength will be put to the test, and if he really has improved, Smalling locking down De Jong would be a huge boon to United’s chances of taking all three points in this match.
PSV Eindhoven injuries and suspensions
Out: Jetro Willems (knee), Menno Koch (knee), Florian Jozefoon (knee) In doubt: none
Manchester United injuries and suspensions
Out: Wayne Rooney (hamstring), Phil Jones (blood clot) In doubt: none
While missing Wayne Rooney hurts for Manchester, Anthony Martial played well against Liverpool, so they should be okay while their captain rests up. PSV missing Willems hurts a lot more -- his quality at left back would be a big help for PSV against Manchester’s attack, not to mention his skill going forward.
Match Date/Time: 2:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local
Venue: Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
TV: Fox Sports 1 (U.S.), RDS 2, TSN4 (Canada), SBS 6, Sport1 Voetball (Netherlands), BT Sport 2
Online: Fox Soccer 2 Go, Fox Sports Go, ESPN3 (U.S.), Sport1 Go (Netherlands)
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