Robben relishing Eindhoven return with Bayern

Berlin (AFP) – Arjen Robben is relishing his return to PSV Eindhoven, 14 years after his Champions League debut, with Bayern Munich hunting a win to take them closer to the knock-out stages.

Eindhoven host Bayern at PSV’s Philips Stadium on Tuesday. 

Robben, 32, was outstanding in Bayern’s 3-1 win at Augsburg on Saturday as he netted and provided both assists for Robert Lewandowski’s goals in a win which kept the Bavarian giants two points clear in Germany’s top flight.

Robben joined Eindhoven as an 18-year-old, scoring 21 goals in 75 games for PSV, for whom he made his Champions League debut in October 2002.

Now, after 90 Champions League games and 14 years, which has seen him also play for Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern, Robben will make his first return to Holland for a European game.

“It’s going to be the first time since I started playing abroad that I will be playing a Champions League game in Holland, and then against my former club,” said the Dutch winger.

“I will simply enjoy the evening in Eindhoven and hopefully we’ll play well.

“We simply have to win and we still want to be first in the group.”

Pleasantries aside, Bayern will be all business and are eager to complete the double having beaten Eindhoven 4-1 in Munich a fortnight ago.

Thomas Mueller, Joshua Kimmich, Lewandowski and Robben all scored for the hosts while Luciano Narsingh netted PSV’s goal.

Bottom side Eindhoven need a victory to maintain their fading hopes of reaching the knock-out stages.

The Bavarian giants are smarting since their 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in their second group game means they still lag three points behind their Spanish rivals.

Bayern will secure qualification to the last 16 if they beat PSV and Atletico avoid defeat at home to Rostov in the other Group D fixture.

PSV are bottom of the table and have not won any of their last five fixtures in the Champions League, including last season, and have failed to score in their last two home European fixtures.

Bayern have a ropey away record with just two wins on the road in their last 11 away Champions League matches with three draws and six defeats.

The Bavarian giants broke a three-match winless streak when they routed Eindhoven a fortnight ago and then earned back-to-back wins over Augsburg in the German Cup, then the league.

But chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says they must keep up the standards, especially with their showdown against Atletico looming in Munich on December 6.

“We’re not through yet, but we want to be first,” said the Bayern boss.

“So accordingly, we will have to play just as well in Eindhoven to get the three points.”

Bayern have both defender Javin Martinez and Franck Ribery out injured.