Round three of the 2022-23 Europa League group-stage campaign sees FC Zurich and PSV Eindhoven go head to head at the Letzigrund Stadion on Thursday.
These two teams are yet to pick up a victory from the opening two matchdays and they will both be looking to come away with all three points in this contest.
FC Zurich played out a 1-1 draw with city rivals Grasshopper Club Zurich when the teams faced off on Saturday.
As a result, the Swiss champions have ended a three-game losing run across three different competitions which they suffered prior to the international break.
In the midst of those aforementioned defeats was a 2-1 loss to Bodo/Glimt on September 15, which left FC Zurich bottom of Group A as they remain without a point in this year’s Europa League.
Off the back of three successive home defeats heading into Thursday’s contest, Genesio Colatrella’s side have it all to do in their quest to avoid another disappointing game in front of their supporters.
After suffering defeat to Rangers in the Champions League playoffs, PSV Eindhoven kicked off their Europa League campaign with a 1–1 draw against Bodo/Glimt on September 8.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side followed that up with successive wins over RKC Waalwijk and Feyenoord before suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Cambuur on Saturday.
With little time to dwell on a surprise result last time out, PSV now turn their attention to continental football where they currently sit third in Group A, although with a game in hand as their encounter with Arsenal originally scheduled for September 15 was postponed due to Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Having suffered back-to-back defeats away from home for the first time since the turn of the year, PSV should get themselves back on track on the road.
FC Zurich vs PSV Eindhoven head to head
These two teams have not previously met in any competition and this will be their first meeting in the Europa League group stages.
FC Zurich latest home form
FC Zurich have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having lost each of their three most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Arsenal in their last home game in the Europa League. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded nine.
Zurich 3-0 Linfield 11/08/22
Zurich 2-1 Hearts 18/08/22
Zurich 2-4 Basel 28/08/22
Zurich 1-2 Lugano 03/09/22
Zurich 1-2 Arsenal 08/09/22
FC Zurich latest away form
FC Zurich have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having been winless in their four most recent matches. They drew 1-1 with Grasshopper in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded nine.
Heart 0-1 Zurich 25/08/22
Servette 3-2 Zurich 11/09/22
Bodo/Glimt 2-1 Zurich 15/09/22
Lausanne Sport (E)3-2 Zurich 18/09/22
Grasshopper 1-1 Zurich 01/10/22
PSV Eindhoven latest home form
PSV Eindhoven have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. They managed to defeat Feyenoord 4-3 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they havs scored 13 goals and conceded six.
PSV 0-1 Rangers 24/08/22
PSV 7-1 Volendam 31/08/22
PSV 1-1 Bodo/Glimt 08/09/22
PSV 1-0 RKC Waalwijk 11/09/22
PSV 4-3 Feyenoord 18/09/22
PSV Eindhoven latest away form
PSV Eindhoven have recently been on a downward turn in form on the road, having lost each of their two most recent matches. They were beaten 3-0 by Cambuur in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 14 goals and conceded 10.
Go Ahead Eagles 2-5 PSV 13/08/22
Rangers 2-2 PSV 16/08/22
Excelsior 1-6 PSV 28/08/22
Twente 2-1 PSV 03/09/22
Cambuur 3-0 PSV 01/10/22
FC Zurich news
Zurich will make do without the services of Ilan Sauter, who still awaits his first appearance this season as he continues his spell on the treatment table.
Jonathan Okita is eligible to feature for the hosts on Thursday having served a one-game suspension in his side’s last match against Grasshopper.
PSV Eindhoven news
22-year-old Richard Ledezma is now fit to play again having returned to action for PSV Eindhoven with an 11-minute cameo at the weekend.
Olivier Boscagli is ruled out for the visitors due to a long-term knee injury which has kept him out of action since the second week of April.
Prediction and Odds
FC Zurich have endured an underwhelming start to the current campaign while PSV will be looking to add to their hosts’ woes on Thursday.
Despite suffering a disappointing defeat in their most recent game, we back the visitors to get the job done and come away with all three points.
Odds: 1 2.30 X 2.05 2 2.20
Probable outcomes
Zurich 0-1 PSV
Zurich 0-2 PSV
Zurich 1-2 PSV
Zurich 0-0 PSV
Zurich 1-1 PSV
