ROME, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Juventus took the initiative in the UEFA Champions League play-offs, beating PSV Eindhoven 2-1 in the first leg at home on Tuesday.
Juve placed 20th in the league phase and is the unseeded team in the play-offs, while PSV had ranked 14th. The two sides had also met in the league stage, with Juve winning 3-1.
The Bianconeri was aggressive in Tuesday's game and went ahead in the 34th minute when Federico Gatti's cross was blocked, but he won the ball and chested for Weston McKennie to smash home on the edge of the box.
The away side equalized in the 56th minute when former Inter Milan player Ivan Perisic gathered the ball in the box, and his nice first touch committed Lloyd Kelly before the Croatian fired home with a low strike.
Juve restored the lead in the 82nd minute when Francisco Conceicao burst down the right, and his cross was parried into the path of Samuel Mbangula, who slotted home from close range.
The return leg will be played in Eindhoven on February 19. ■
