Eindhoven expects

By Theo Ruizenaar

PSV Eindhoven have it all to do at home against BV Borussia Dortmund in Group A of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

Hofland out
Without a goal in their first two matches - which brought a 0-0 away draw with AJ Auxerre and a 4-0 home defeat by Arsenal FC - the Dutch team find themselves in a must-win situation against Dortmund in Eindhoven. And they must do it without defender Kevin Hofland who is out for several weeks after an ankle injury suffered last Wednesday.

'Win is needed'
PSV coach Guus Hiddink is hoping his squad will give a better account of themselves than on Matchday Two. "My players know what they have to do, and it is up to them to show that they can fulfil the task," he said. "I told my team that, for this match, willing is not enough. A win is needed."

Brazilian creativity
He said it would be a tough task against last season's UEFA Cup runners-up and German champions, who are the only unbeaten team in the 1. Bundesliga this season. "Dortmund's play is based on a reliable base, a physically strong team," Hiddink added. "It's always tough to play German opponents. Beside that they have some Brazilian creativity."

Midfield key
Hiddink, who could draft Ernest Faber in to replace Hofland, expects the midfield battle to be the key, and hopes his players will be able to rise to the challenge this time around. "I'm curious how my team will handle this, after last week's disappointment," he said.

Dortmund desire
Dortmund coach Matthias Sammer is well aware that the home team will be looking to bounce back at the Philips stadium, but his side also need a result having lost 2-0 at Arsenal before a 2-1 home victory against Auxerre last week.

Closed defence
"I know that the pressure is on PSV now, and they are forced to win to keep their chance for the second round alive," Sammer said. "But we can't afford another defeat in this phase so the tension is also high for us. We have to keep our defence closed and hope that we can achieve something up front."

Amoroso waiting
Sammer is hoping veteran defender Stefan Reuter will be ready while Marcio Amoroso, the match winner as a substitute against Auxerre, may be on the bench again. "Amoroso is fit, but he hasn't practised much with the group, so I think it will be better for him to start from the bench," said Sammer. "And that will give me the possibility to bring him on if my team needs it." With PSV promising to show their fighting spirit, it may well be that Amoroso gets the chance to make a difference once more.