Red Star Belgrade 2-3 PSV: De Jong at the double in nervy win

Luuk de Jong scored a brace as 10-man PSV held out for a 3-2 victory over Red Star Belgrade at a freezing Stadion Rajko Mitic in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Ryan Flamingo scored the Dutch club’s third goal, but when he was sent off early in the second period, the momentum shifted towards the home side and they made it tense through headers from Cherif Ndiaye and Nasser Djiga.

PSV held firm, though, and they remain on course for the play-offs with 11 points from their seven matches. Red Star, meanwhile, are out of contention having managed only three points from the same number of fixtures.

PSV hit the front as De Jong rose to meet an outswinging corner from Joey Veerman and powered his header from 15 yards into the far corner of the net. He added a second from another Veerman corner shortly afterwards.

The visitors got a third before half-time and again it came from a corner as defender Flamingo volleyed home a thunderous strike.

But Flamingo’s joy turned to disbelief when he received a straight red card five minutes into the second period after he brought down Nemanja Radonjic on the edge of the box.

Red Star felt they had a chance with a numerical advantage and they pulled two goals back as Ndiaye and Djiga scored with headers, but despite heavy pressure in the closing minutes, they could not find an equalising goal.

PSV Eindhoven #CZVPSV #UCL pic.twitter.com/VhuHPx9UaB

— PSV (@PSV) January 21, 2025

Data Debrief: The man for the big occasion

De Jong certainly has a knack for popping up when he is most required.

Nine of his last 11 Champions League goals have either drawn his side level (five) or put them one goal up (four).

Tuesday’s game marked the third time he had both scored and assisted in a game in the competition, doing so for the first time since September 2016 versus Rostov.