After last week's goal-fest in Eindhoven, the task for PSV next Thursday is clear. Coach Roger Schmidt's team must at least not lose against FC Copenhagen to lay claim to a first European quarterfinal in 11 years. Both teams are in good form.
Selection
PSV traveled to the Danish capital Wednesday morning with 23 players. Phillipp Mwene, Ryan Thomas and André Ramalho are still missing from the squad. The team trains Wednesday evening at the stadium of opponent Copenhagen.
European duels
PSV will play its sixteenth European game of the season. In the last eleven duels, Schmidt's team won only from Sturm Graz (twice) and Maccabi Tel Aviv. In the last 23 games away from home, PSV won four. The last time PSV reached the quarter-finals of a European tournament dates from the 2010-2011 season. Back then, Benfica proved too strong. The only current PSV players who have ever been in action in a European quarterfinal are Mario Götze, Armindo Bruma and Ramalho.
Balance
It may not be a coincidence that the two teams balanced each other in the outward game. Copenhagen is unbeaten in all competitions 12 games in a row. The team last lost in October. PSV records a run of ten consecutive games without defeat since early February. Copenhagen won two of its three penalty shootout series in Europe. PSV was the strongest from 11 meters three of the five times.
Gakpo
Cody Gakpo scored seven European goals this season. The tally stands at a total of 12 goals in a European context for the Eindhoven native. This puts him in ninth place in the ranking of European goal scorers for PSV. Gakpo is suspended for the next European game in case of a new yellow card. The same goes for Jordan Teze and Erick Gutiérrez.