PSV’s line-up for the crucial Europa League match against Real Sociedad has been announced. Roger Schmidt passes Carlos Vinícius, who has had a starting spot in the last nine official games. The task for PSV is simple: one point is enough to reach the knockout stage of the Europa League. In the event of a defeat, a continuation awaits in the Conference League. The game starts at 6.45 pm in Estadio Anoeta.
PSV’s infirmary was empty last week. Cody Gakpo, Noni Madueke, Mario Götze and Philipp Max are fit again, giving Schmidt the necessary options. On Saturday, Gakpo already had a base place against FC Utrecht (4-1) and that will be the case again on Thursday evening. Compared to that competition match, Götze returns to the base. PSV plays in a 4-3-3 formation on paper and Vinícius has left the vanguard.
Schmidt already showed at the press conference that he wanted to make the necessary changes during the game. “The line-up is important, but it is at least as important that our reserves are also of top level,” emphasized the coach. “I expect that we will end this game with five different players than we started with.”
Real Sociedad had to make it through the last three official games without the injured pair of David Silva and Mikel Merino. The two midfielders are also not there against PSV; the same goes for Carlos Fernández, Nacho Monreal and Asier Illarramendi, although they haven’t scored a minute all season.
Real Sociedad lineup: Remiro; Zaldua, Elustondo, Le Normand, Munoz; Portu, Zubimendi, Zubeldia, Oyarzabal; Isak, Januzaj
PSV line-up: drum; Mwene, Ramalho, Boscagli, Mauro Junior; Sangare, Gotze, Gutierrez; Doan, Gakpo, Bruma