According to reports, PSV and the municipality of Eindhoven have formally requested UEFA to accommodate a scheduling change ahead of Friday’s Champions League draw.
Peter Bosz’s squad secured their place in the round of 16 on Wednesday night with a remarkable 3-1 victory over Juventus in the second leg of their play-off tie. Despite a 2-1 defeat in the first leg, PSV equalized the aggregate score after 90 minutes before Ryan Flamingo netted a dramatic winner in the 98th minute to seal their progression.
In the next round, PSV will take on either Arsenal or Inter Milan, with the draw scheduled for 11 a.m. GMT on Friday at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
Ahead of the draw, reports indicate that PSV and the Eindhoven municipality have made an unusual request to UEFA, asking to play their home leg on Wednesday, March 5, rather than Tuesday, March 4.
According to De Telegraaf, the reason behind the request is that Tuesday marks the final day of the Eindhoven Carnival. Between February 28 and March 4, the city—renamed Lampegat during the festivities—transforms into a massive celebration hub, requiring a significant police presence. Ensuring adequate security resources is reportedly the main motivation behind PSV’s appeal.
This is not the first time the club has made such a request. Back in 2007, UEFA rejected a similar plea, forcing PSV to play Arsenal on a Tuesday night.
As previously mentioned, the Champions League round of 16 draw will take place on Friday at 11 a.m. UK time. The top eight teams will be paired according to their final league standings, with 1st facing 2nd, 3rd facing 4th, and so on. For instance, Arsenal will be matched with Inter Milan.
Once paired, Arsenal will be drawn into one of two positions in the knockout bracket, which currently features Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven.
The draw process involves four bowls, each containing the names of the seeded teams. The first team drawn will be placed in a designated slot on one side of the bracket, while the second team will be assigned to the corresponding position on the opposite side.
As a result, whichever team—Arsenal or Inter Milan—is drawn first will face PSV, while the other will be matched against Feyenoord.
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