EINDHOVEN, Netherlands — Juventus faced yet another disappointing exit from the Champions League playoffs, marking a troubling trend for Italian soccer as they fell to lower-ranked teams once again. The storied two-time European champions succumbed to a 3-1 defeat after extra time against PSV Eindhoven, with PSV progressing to the round of 16 with a 4-3 aggregate score.
Juventus had its hopes revived when U.S. wing-back Timothy Weah scored a stunning equalizer in the 63rd minute, bringing the game to a 1-1 tie and giving Juventus a glimmer of hope. However, that excitement was short-lived as the match turned in favor of PSV. The previous night had already seen distress for Italian teams, with both AC Milan and Atalanta eliminated from the competition at home by Feyenoord and Club Brugge, respectively.
In total, five Italian clubs entered the new 36-team Champions League format this season. Unfortunately, Bologna was unable to make a significant impact, failing to progress to the knockout stage in their return after a lengthy absence of 60 years. Inter Milan, the last Serie A club to claim the European championship title 15 years ago, remains as the sole representative for Italy in the upcoming round of 16 draw.
The clash on Wednesday featured a pivotal moment as former Inter favorite Ivan Periši? contributed to Juventus’s downfall by scoring the opener for PSV in the 53rd minute. He converted a perfect cross-field pass from teammate Noa Lang, driving the ball past goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. Although Weah’s powerful shot from distance tied the game shortly thereafter, it initially faced an offside call, which was overturned after a quick video review validated the goal.
PSV equalized the aggregate score once again at 74 minutes through Ismael Saibari, while the decisive goal came from defender Ryan Flamingo in the 98th minute. Flamingo capitalized on a scramble in the penalty area following a low cross from Johan Bakayoko, whose delivery deflected off Federico Gatti and Di Gregorio.
In the upcoming round of 16 draw, PSV is set to face either Arsenal or Inter Milan, both of which are among the four clubs where Periši? has played in his career. Additionally, Club Brugge, another former team of his, is the lowest-ranked club in the draw, representing Belgium — the lowest-ranked nation still in the competition.
With three more teams eliminated from the Champions League, the prospect for Italian soccer to earn an additional fifth entry next season appears dim. UEFA typically awards this bonus to the two countries that achieve the best results collectively in European tournaments.
