In exactly one week, PSV will play its first crucial game of the season: then the team from Eindhoven will start in the second qualifying round of the Champions League with a home match against Galatasaray. On Wednesday evening, PSV will play its last practice match in the run-up to the season overture. Roger Schmidt seems to have already made the necessary decisions and for the time being there is no room for Mohamed Ihattaren, among others.
PSV will start against PAOK on Wednesday in the same basic setup as against VfL Osnabruck four days earlier. Schmidt seems to have abandoned the 4-2-2-2 formation for the time being, in which PSV played almost continuously last season. The German now opts for 4-2-3-1, possibly also in light of the absence of Donyell Malen. The striker is still on holiday and is not expected back anyway, because he seems to be on his way to Borussia Dortmund.
As a result, Schmidt is left with only one real center striker with Eran Zahavi. The Israeli is supported in his back by Mario Götze, who is in the newly created number ten position. On the right wing, Noni Madueke is temporarily preferred over Mohamed Ihattaren, about whom Schmidt spoke remarkably positively recently. As is known, Ihattaren has a contract with PSV expiring next year and had the negotiations about an extension bounced off earlier.
There is room on the left flank for Yorbe Vertessen, in whom Schmidt seems to have confidence after his breakthrough season. Normally, Cody Gakpo seems to be the number one for that position, but the attacker is still on holiday with the the Dutch after the European Championship. The controlling block in midfield against PAOK consists of Ibrahim Sangaré and Marco van Ginkel. Pablo Rosario’s absence can be explained by a minor injury, while Davy Pröpper currently seems to be sidelined.
There are fewer surprises to discover in the back. Jordan Teze moves from centre-back, where he played last season, to right-back, preferring it to signing Phillipp Mwene. Captain Denzel Dumfries is just like Malen on his way to the exit and is not expected back in Eindhoven. André Ramalho, another newcomer, forms a central duo with Olivier Boscagli, while Philipp Max remains the left-back. In the goal, Joël Drommel, who came over from FC Twente, is preferred over Yvon Mvogo.
PSV line-up: drum; Teze, Ramalho, Boscagli, Max; Sangare, Van Ginkel; Madueke, Gotze, Vertessen, Zahavic