One week on from running out comfortable 4-1 winners on their own patch, PSV Eindhoven look to complete the job when they face Austrian side Sturm Graz in their Champions League third-round qualifying second-leg affair on Tuesday.
Peter Bosz's side taught their upcoming hosts a footballing lesson when the two sides squared off at the Philips Stadion, and only a midweek horror show would deny them a place in the playoff rounds now.
Match preview
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The writing was on the wall for Sturm Graz when Isaac Babadi found the back of the net just four minutes into last week's first leg, and the previously sturdy Schwoazn backline was subsequently breached at will by Bosz's goal-happy charges.
Luuk de Jong got in on the act with a brace before Jon Gorenc Stankovic gave the Austrian faithful something to cheer in the 40th minute, but PSV restored their three-goal cushion through Ibrahim Sangare's header to put one foot firmly in the knockout rounds.
The hangover from that crushing continental loss was partially evident when Christian Ilzer's side took on Austria Klagenfurt in their most recent Bundesliga showdown, as left-back David Schnegg saw red just 33 minutes in, but the 10 men of Sturm Graz managed to hold out for a goalless draw.
The hosts therefore remain unbeaten and unbreached in top-flight action so far this term - claiming two wins and a draw while keeping a trio of clean sheets - but their defensive solidity was nowhere to be found in Eindhoven, and a first group-stage appearance since 2001 is now surely nothing more than a pipe dream.
Instead, Sturm Graz will likely accept a place in the Europa League group stages for the second year running - having been eliminated in Champions League qualifying at this point by Dynamo Kyiv last term - as PSV look ahead to the final hurdle of the preliminary rounds.
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Three wins from three different competitions represents the dream start to Bosz's tenure at PSV, who edged out Feyenoord in the Dutch Super Cup before putting four past Sturm Graz at the Philips Stadion last week.
Utrecht were not expected to provide a formidable challenge to PSV during their Eredivisie opener at the weekend, and Bosz's side got the job done with relative ease, as goals either side of the breka from Noa Lang and Yorbe Vertessen sealed a straightforward 2-0 win.
Starting as they mean to go on both domestically and continentally, PSV are now on a 20-game unbeaten run across all competitive fixtures since a 3-0 Europa League defeat to eventual winners Sevilla back in February, with Bosz's new manager bounce ostensibly in full effect.
Without a Champions League group-stage appearance since the pre-COVID days of the 2018-19 season, PSV now seek a fourth win from four against Sturm Graz, having also swept the Austrian outfit aside 6-1 over two Europa League matches in the 2021-22 campaign.
Less than a year later, PSV's Champions League qualifying adventure ended at the hands of Rangers in the playoff round, but with the Scottish side holding a 2-1 lead over Servette in their third-round fixture, a shot at revenge could come PSV's way barring a shock defeat in Graz.
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Team News
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Sturm Graz left-back Schnegg will be fine to line up at the Liebenauer Stadium on Tuesday, as the defender's suspension from his red card from the weekend only applies to domestic fixtures, but midfielder Otar Kiteishvili reportedly left the field with an injury at half time against Klagenfurt.
However, Kiteishvili was taken off for another left-back in Amadou Dante, suggesting that there may have also been a tactical element to his withdrawal, while attacker Szymon Wlodarczyk also lasted just 45 minutes and is now facing intense competition from Mohammed Fuseini and William Boving.
Fellow attacker Manprit Sarkaria is still missing with a hamstring issue, but the hosts are otherwise well-stocked for the second leg and can be expected to field a strong XI, even with the result of the tie surely beyond any doubt.
Speaking of left-backs on the naughty step, PSV will once again make do without Mauro Junior, who is serving a ban for his sending off against Sevilla in last year's Europa League exit, although he is suffering from a knee injury either way.
The absences of Armando Obispo (knee) and Fredrik Oppegard - who is recovering from surgery - leaves Bosz with few options for change at the back, but alterations could occur in the final third given his side's healthy advantage.
Vertessen and Ricardo Pepi should battle to lead the line if De Jong is granted a rest, while Guus Til has only played a peripheral role so far this term but could also come into Bosz's thinking.
Sturm Graz possible starting lineup:
Scherpen; Gazibegovic, Affengruber, Wuthrich, Schnegg; Kiteishvili, Gorenc Stankovic, Hierlander; Prass; Boving, Teixeira
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Teze, Ramalho, Boscagli, Van Aanholt; Veerman, Sangare, Til; Bakayoko, Vertessen, Lang
We say: Sturm Graz 0-2 PSV Eindhoven (PSV win 6-1 on aggregate)
In an identical scenario to the 2021-22 Europa League group stage, PSV could very well follow up a 4-1 thrashing of Sturm Graz with a more lowkey two-goal success to ensure a straightforward route into the playoff round.
Bosz may be tempted to tinker with his lineup, potentially giving the hosts a glimmer of hope, but the Dutch Super Cup winners should have an array of talent in reserve waiting to make an impact should things go pear-shaped.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Knapton
