PSV will go into the draw for the group stage of the Europa League on Friday. The Eindhoven team already settled with NS Mura last week and also won against Rosenborg BK in the play-offs for the tournament on Thursday evening. Eran Zahavi made his debut in Norway and immediately played a leading role with a goal and the assist to Cody Gakpo’s decisive 2-0. Despite the victory, there was also bad news for trainer Roger Schmidt, as Ryan Thomas and Philipp Max had to leave prematurely due to injuries.

Zahavi was one of the new faces in PSV’s starting eleven compared to last Sunday’s Eredivisie match against Heracles Almelo. Schmidt also made basic places in Trondheim for Olivier Boscagli, Thomas and Donyell Malen and their entrance was at the expense of Nick Viergever, Michal Sadílek, Mohamed Ihattaren and Bruma. With these four newcomers in the ranks, PSV was the more dangerous of the two teams in the first half and after twenty minutes of play it was almost hit for Zahavi when he hit the post.

Shortly after this good opportunity, Schmidt’s first setback followed, as Thomas was unable to continue and had to be replaced by Jorrit Hendrix. The midfielder was only on the field when he experienced the opening goal of his new teammate: Malen hurled the ball from the edge of the box in front of the goal and the post was now a bit more favorable to Zahavi, as the leather this time through the aluminum in the target disappeared.

Rosenborg did not offer much against this in the first half from an offensive point of view, but came almost on the same level immediately after the break. A chaotic moment in front of Yvon Mvogo’s goal almost resulted in a goal from former AZ midfielder Markus Henriksen, who, however, just saw his attempt being taken off the line by Denzel Dumfries. After the break, PSV initially failed to run further despite good opportunities for Malen and Zahavi. With half an hour left on the clock, Max then increased the physical problems for the people of Eindhoven when he had to be replaced by Viergever with an apparent hamstring injury.

Just as with the entrance of Hendrix in the first half, it was almost immediately hit after this change: Gakpo captured the ball in the own half, after which he steamed up and eventually, on a pass from Zahavi, was allowed to take out from the edge of the box. The attacker saw his shot fly through the inside of the post behind goalkeeper André Hansen, bringing PSV to the doorstep of the Europa League. After Gakpo’s 2-0, there were still some dangerous moments for both goals, but PSV’s lead was never really endangered. The team from Eindhoven will hear on Friday afternoon from 1 p.m. which opponents they will face in the group stage of the tournament. In addition to PSV, Feyenoord and AZ also participate in the Europa League.