PSV Eindhoven secured their first UEFA Champions League group stage victory in emphatic style on Tuesday night, dismantling Napoli 6-2 at the Philips Stadion. The comprehensive win not only provided a massive boost to their campaign but also marked the first time PSV have secured back-to-back victories against Italian opposition in the competition’s history.
The free-flowing contest started quickly, with Napoli’s Lorenzo Lucca missing an early chance. PSV soon seized control, forcing Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic into a sharp save from Dennis Man before Guus Til and Ryan Flamingo came close from Joey Veerman set-pieces.
Against the run of play, Napoli struck first just after the half-hour mark. Leonardo Spinazzola delivered a fast cross, which Scott McTominay met with an emphatic header to put the visitors 1-0 up.
However, Antonio Conte’s side could not hold their advantage. PSV immediately responded, pulling level when a sustained attack ended with Ivan Perisic’s cross being inadvertently turned past his own keeper by Napoli defender Alessandro Buongiorno. The goal was quickly followed by a second, as Ismael Saibari tucked home from close range after a rapid, tenacious breakaway, sending PSV into the break leading 2-1.
Second Half Onslaught
The hosts ramped up the pressure after the restart. Following a half-time warning when Lucca headed wide, PSV extended their lead through a moment of individual brilliance. Mauro Junior shimmied past Buongiorno and delivered a cutback that Man cleverly slotted past Milinkovic-Savic via a deflection off Sam Beukema.
Napoli’s efforts to respond were hampered when striker Lucca was bizarrely sent off for dissent. PSV immediately capitalized on the ten-man advantage, with Dennis Man scoring his second, a blistering drive to make it 4-1.
Although McTominay grabbed a consolation goal for Napoli with another header, briefly sparking the smallest hope of a revival, PSV quickly quashed that belief. Substitute Ricardo Pepi made an instant impact, tapping in at the back post, before Couhaib Driouech finished a bewitching passing move with a thumping strike to complete the 6-2 rout.
The result moves Peter Bosz’s PSV side onto four points in the league phase, one point ahead of Napoli, who have now lost successive games for the first time since last December, adding to their weekend defeat against Torino.
