PSV Eindhoven Secures 1-0 Victory in Champions League Group B

 PSV Eindhoven Secures 1-0 Victory in Champions League Group B

Luuk de Jong of PSV battles for the ball with Neil El Aynaoui of RC Lens during the UEFA Champions League Group B match between PSV and RC Lens at Philips Stadion on November 8, 2023 in Eindhoven, Netherlands(Image-Getty)

PSV Eindhoven secured their first victory in Champions League Group B with a 1-0 triumph over Racing Lens in a rainy showdown at the Philips Stadium on Wednesday. The win propelled them from the bottom of the standings to second place.

The 33-year-old prolific striker, Luuk de Jong, continued his impressive form, notching his 16th goal of the season for PSV. He capitalized on his height advantage to head home a cross from Johan Bakayoko, setting the pace with an early 12th-minute goal.

Despite the adverse weather conditions, PSV maintained their attacking momentum throughout the game, with Bakayoko and Mexican forward Hirving Lozano coming close to extending the lead. Lens, though less effective in their offensive pursuits, remained competitive, nearly securing an 88th-minute equalizer when substitute Morgan Guilavogui struck the post.

The physically intense match saw Lens receive seven yellow cards, reflecting the heated nature of the encounter. Guilavogui, who entered the game in the 78th minute, faced a tumultuous end to the match as he earned a yellow card just four minutes after coming on, followed by a second caution in the stoppage time, resulting in his dismissal.

PSV, previously unable to secure a win in their first three group games, advanced to five points, edging ahead of Lens based on their head-to-head results. Meanwhile, Arsenal maintained their lead at the top of the standings with nine points, following a 2-0 home victory over Sevilla, leaving the Spanish side at the bottom with only two points to their name.