PSV failed to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League. The Eindhoven team stumbled over Benfica in the last preliminary round: after a 2-1 defeat in Portugal, a 0-0 draw followed on Tuesday evening in the Philips Stadium. Due to a red card from Lucas Verissimo, Benfica played with ten men from minute 32. The visitors successfully kept PSV away from the goal in large parts of the game and were able to breathe a sigh of relief a few times. PSV enter the group stage of the Europa League.
Verissimo’s red card came at a favorable moment for PSV. In the first half hour, the home team was unable to break open the game. The people of Eindhoven operated cautiously, while Benfica withdrew. PSV played patiently and tried to find a gap, which succeeded considerably better when Benfica had to continue with ten men. The red card was the result of two fouls by Verissimo: the defender attacked Cody Gakpo in the eighth minute and hit the attacker in the face with his left arm after half an hour, receiving his second yellow card.
What an opportunity for PSV! Gakpo takes off at lightning speed after a mistake by Vertonghen, but Zahavi forgets to shoot the ball against the ropes. #psvben #UCL pic.twitter.com/PeE62av1hw
— VTBL ? (@vtbl) August 24, 2021
After the red card, Noni Madueke had some chances to open the score in the first half. The in-form attacker curled the ball just wide and came across goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos moments later, after Madueke had penetrated the penalty area. Benfica became dangerous once in the first half, when Rafa Silva appeared just in front of goal after Ibrahim Sangaré suddenly headed the ball into Roman Yaremchuk’s feet. At close range, his shot was deflected by André Ramalho. At that time, both teams still had eleven men on the field.
Thirteen minutes after the break, a carelessness by Noni Madueke led to a threatening counter from Benfica; Yaremchuk was forced to the side and eventually shot over. Then PSV got the biggest chance of the match so far: in an outbreak, made possible by a mistake by substitute Jan Vertonghen, Cody Gakpo served teammate Eran Zahavi, who slid the ball against the bar from close range. Benfica defended with might and main, so PSV had to limit themselves to long shots. Two attempts by Ramalho and a shot by Sangaré in between were no problem for Vlachodimos. A breakout with two chances for Yorbe Vertessen in the penalty area did not help either. In stoppage time, the crowd held their breath as Zahavi scored for a free kick in an attractive position, but he shot into the wall.