PSV Eindhoven vs Borussia Dortmund Prediction 20.02.2024

• Competition: UEFA Champions League - last 16 1st leg
• Date: Tuesday, 20th, February 2024
• Kickoff: 20:00 UTC / 21.00 CET
• Venue: Philips Stadion (Eindhoven)

The unstoppable Eredivisie leaders, PSV Eindhoven, will play host to Borussia Dortmund at the Philips Stadion for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

Despite a tragic start to their Champions League campaign, suffering a 0-4 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal in North London, the Eindhoven giants showcased an extraordinary response, going unbeaten in their remaining five European group-stage matches (W3, D2), allowing them to secure the second spot, just one point ahead of RC Lens in third. As a result, Peter Bosz's team has booked their spot in the best 16 of the top-tier club competition, marking a return to the knockout phase after nearly a decade's absence, where they were last seen during the 2015-16 season when Atletico Madrid ousted them in a dramatic penalty shootout (7-8).

Following the announcement of the draw for this year's UEFA Champions League group stage, it was crystal clear to Borussia Dortmund that they faced an incredibly demanding and challenging path to the knockout phase, but nothing insurmountable. It was like that. Despite a shaky start to their journey through the dreaded "group of death", where they took just a paltry point from their opening two UCL matches, the popular Millionaires staged a magnificent turnaround thereafter, picking up 10 of a possible 12 points in the subsequent four European outings to take the top of the table and ensured a place in the knockout rounds.

PSV Eindhoven vs Borussia Dortmund Betting Tips: X2 (Double chance)

While PSV's fairytale Eredivisie campaign, where they earned an extraordinary 62 points out of a possible 66, deserves all the plaudits, securing any advantage against the resilient Dortmund team in the first leg of the UCL last-16 clash will be anything but a walk in the park, even with the comfort of playing in front of their loyal supporters. Apart from boasting a significantly richer European pedigree, the Yellow and Blacks mustn't be overlooked for their journey through the "group of hell," emerging as leaders no less, leaving behind the French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, seven-time "big-eared trophy" holder AC Milan, and Premier League heavyweights Newcastle. 

Since holding Mbappe and company to a stalemate during their last UCL group stage match on December 13th, Dortmund continues to uphold their unbeaten run, which extended to the ninth match over the weekend (W4, D5) as they shared points in an uncomfortable visit to Wolfsburg (1-1). More importantly, Edin Terzic's men have strengthened their rearguard at just the right moment and seem to have the recipe to stiffle PSV's formidable attacking edge, keeping their goal intract in four out of the first six Bundesliga outings in the new calendar year, conceding just two goals in the process.

While the Yellow and Blacks are considered the more hardened side compared to the Dutch outfit, who this is their first knockout exit in eight season, unline Dortmund, who have reached this stage for the fifth time in the last six UCL editions, the H2H's also tilt in favor of the Bundesliga side, who have never tasted the bitterness of failure against PSV, claiming two triumphs and settling for a draw once. Given all that's been said, we have no choice but to throw our support behind Dortmund to at least remain undefeated during their visit to Eindhoven.