PSV Eindhoven suffered a setback in their UEFA Champions League campaign on Wednesday after losing 2-1 to Club Brugge at the Philips Stadion, with former Ajax winger Carlos Forbs scoring the decisive goal.
The defeat has further complicated PSV’s chances of reaching the knockout play-off round, as the Dutch champions currently occupy the final position among the teams in the play-off zone.
They face Spanish giants Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in their next two matches before taking on Norwegian side Viking and German club VfB Stuttgart.
PSV manager, Peter Bosz left striker Ricardo Pepi on the bench despite his return from injury against Willem II at the weekend.
Sven Mijnans operated in the attacking midfield role, while Guus Til led the attack.
Filip Kostic also came into the starting lineup in place of Yarek Gasiorowski.
Club Brugge took the lead in the 25th minute when Joaquin Seys delivered a cross into the penalty area, allowing Nicolo Tresoldi to head home his fifth Champions League goal of the season.
PSV threatened through Sergino Dest, who had two promising opportunities in the first half, but goalkeeper Yann Sommer denied the American defender.
Matej Kovar also kept the hosts in the game by stopping an effort from Forbs before the break.
The visitors nearly extended their advantage shortly after the restart when Felix Lemarechal’s deflected effort struck the crossbar.
PSV responded in the 54th minute as Lutsharel Geertruida’s low delivery eventually reached Kodai Sano, whose shot deflected off a Brugge defender and into the net.
The hosts pushed for a winner, with Ruben van Bommel coming close from an Ivan Perisic corner, but Seys cleared the ball off the goal line.
Brugge then punished PSV’s defensive lapses when Forbs broke forward on the counter-attack and calmly fired into the far corner to secure the victory.
The Belgian side climbed to ninth place in the Champions League standings, missing out on the top eight, which guarantees automatic qualification to the round of 16, only on goal difference.
PSV will now turn their attention to Sunday’s away fixture against SC Cambuur before the international break.
