After a disappointing defeat at the hands of Dinamo Moscow in Russia last time out in Group E, PSV looked to get back to winning ways in the Europa League against Panathinaikos at the Phillips Stadion, following a 3-0 win at the hands of AZ Alkmaar on Saturday. Memphis Depay made his long anticipated return to the side following a groin injury. It was that man Memphis who looked the most likely player to score as his 17th minute costless-kick rattled the crossbar. Cocu’s team continued to dominate but just couldn’t find a goal for all the possession that they had. But the deadlock was finally broken on the stroke of half time as De Jong found Memphis who cleverly rounded the keeper before applying the all-important finish, which would have pleased Cocu, as well as changed his team talk at the break.

The second half continued in the same vein and PSV were the better side, Jetro Willems forcing Steele into a good save four minutes after the restart. At the other end, Panathinaikos began to create chances and PSV were struggling to kill the game off. The Greek’s began to throw bodies forward and in the 87th minute go their reward when Pasveer denied Petric brilliantly before substitute Nikos tapped home the rebound. PSV finished the game on an even worse note, Bruma out of frustration received a second yellow card for a wild challenge in the 89th minute, and it finished one a piece. 

PSV: Pasveer, Willems, Rekik, Bruma, Brenet, Maher, Hendrix, Guardado, Narsingh, de Jony, Memphis.

Panathinaikos: Steele, Triantafyllopoulos, Koutroubis, Schildenfeld, Nano, Zeca, Donis, Pranjic, Dinas, Klonaridis, Bouy. 

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About the author
Ryan Taylor
European Football writer.