PSV Eindhoven endured a frustrating night in the Champions League as their defensive frailties were exposed in a 2-1 defeat by Club Brugge.
PSV started full of attacking intent and should have taken an early lead when Ivan Perisic put Sergiño Dest clean through on goal, but the defender’s shot was too close to goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Instead it was the visitors who took the lead with their first real attack when Nicolo Tresoldi headed in a teasing cross from Joaquin Seys.
PSV equalised early in the second half as an outstanding pass by Sven Mijnans into the path Lutsharel Geertruida allowed the defender to charge to the byline. His pullback found its way to Kodai Sano, whose shot took a deflection off Seys into the net.
But five minutes later PSV were caught out as another razor-sharp pass by Seys released Carlos Forbs in space to net the winner.
The home side refused to give up, but were unable to find a way past Sommer in the closing stages as the Belgian side closed out the win.
Team captain Mauro Junior admitted that PSV had been undone by shortcomings at the back. “We had a lot of opportunities in the first half but we didn’t score,” he told Ziggo Sport.
“We want to attack and score goals, but we weren’ well organised today in defence. We need to keep our heads up and look forward to the next game.”
The result leaves PSV in 24th place, just above the elimination line, ahead of their next match away to Real Madrid on November 24, with four points from their opening four matches.
