PSV’s line-up for the Europa League match with AS Monaco has been announced. The most important change on the side of the Eindhoven team is made in the striker position, where Carlos Vinícius is preferred over Eran Zahavi. The honors of the suspended Ibrahim Sangaré are taken over by Olivier Boscagli. The Frenchman moves one line forward, leaving a gap in the center back that is filled by Armando Obispo. The kick-off of the duel for the lead in Group B will take place at 9 p.m. in the Philips Stadium.
Trainer Roger Schmidt is therefore making three changes to the starting eleven compared to last weekend’s Eredivisie match with PEC Zwolle. Joël Drommel is under the bar as usual, and a four-man defense is posted in front of the goalkeeper. Phillipp Mwene fills in the right back position and Philipp Max is left back. The heart of the defense is formed by André Ramalho, who equalized against PEC, and Obispo, the replacement for the forward Boscagli.
In midfield, Marco van Ginkel and Boscagli are assigned the controlling role, while Mario Götze fills in the number ten position. Sangaré received his second yellow card in the game against Sturm Graz (1-4) a minute before the end of regular time and is therefore suspended against Monaco. At the press conference the day before the meeting with the Monegasques, Schmidt did not seem concerned about the absence of the Ivorian international. “We also managed to play a good game against Real Sociedad without Ibrahim, but he is a key player for us,” said the selector.
The alternative option discussed at the press conference for filling the gap left by Sangaré was Davy Pröpper, but he will have to settle for a spot on the bench. Furthermore, Schmidt has the biggest surprise in store up front. Zahavi is not in the striker, but Vinícius gets a basic place from the coach. Noni Madueke is in the front right, and Cody Gakpo can show his skills from the left wing.
PSV line-up: drum; Mwene, Ramalho, Obispo, Max; Van Ginkel, Götze, Boscagli – Madueke, Vinicius, Gakpo
Line-up AS Monaco: nnb