PSV Eindhoven must produce another unexpected result against a European heavyweight if they are to keep their UEFA Champions League campaign alive, according to ESPN analyst Danny Koevermans.

Peter Bosz’s side have collected just one point from their opening two matches in the competition, leaving them under pressure ahead of Tuesday’s away fixture against FC Porto. With difficult encounters against Club Brugge and Real Madrid also on the schedule, Koevermans believes PSV need to find a way to claim a crucial victory against one of Europe’s leading sides.

PSV suffered a 1-0 defeat away to RB Leipzig on Tuesday after beginning their European campaign with a 1-1 home draw against Shakhtar Donetsk. Their disappointing start means the Dutch champions have little room for further dropped points if they hope to finish in the top 24 and advance to the knockout phase.

Speaking on ESPN’s Voetbalpraat, Koevermans pointed to PSV’s famous 4-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield last season as the kind of result they now need to reproduce.

“It's actually dramatic. You've played two matches and have one point. You need to pull off something unexpected to get into those first 24,” he said.

“I was a witness to the match in which PSV beat Liverpool. Those were three points you would never have expected. That has to happen now too: that you suddenly take three points against a top team.”

Koevermans also highlighted PSV’s injury problems in attack, with Ricardo Pepi, Sam Lammers and Alassane Pléa currently unavailable to Bosz.

The absences have limited the manager’s options in the final third, with PSV struggling to make the most of their opportunities at Champions League level. Koevermans believes the lack of attacking impetus is becoming a significant concern as the fixtures become increasingly demanding.

“I think they lack fitness. They also miss attacking impetus. That's basically it,” the former PSV striker explained, as quoted by PSV Inside.

“At Champions League level, it's important that you have your best players on board, and the forwards aren't there. You can use that as an excuse. But when it comes to it as it is now, with the matches that are still coming up, and it is the Champions League, then nothing is easy. Absolutely nothing.”

The injury situation has also reduced Bosz’s ability to change the course of matches from the bench. With several recognised strikers unavailable, PSV have fewer options to introduce fresh attacking quality when chasing a result.

However, Koevermans acknowledged that the difficulties extend beyond the current absences, particularly given the importance of the points already dropped.

PSV’s immediate focus turns to Saturday’s Eredivisie away fixture against newly promoted ADO Den Haag before they travel to Portugal to face FC Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The upcoming European schedule offers little respite. PSV will host Club Brugge in November before travelling to face Real Madrid, making the trip to Porto particularly important for their hopes of progressing.

Koevermans believes PSV have already made their task more difficult by failing to beat Shakhtar Donetsk at home, a fixture in which they were expected to collect three points.

“Against Shakhtar you were expected to get three points. You’re already far behind with the chances you’re getting,” he said.

PSV’s chances of reaching the top 24 remain alive, but their margin for error has narrowed considerably. With Porto next and further demanding fixtures to follow, Bosz’s side may need another surprise on the scale of their victory at Anfield to keep their Champions League ambitions on track.

“If they manage to still make it into the top 24, I’d consider that quite impressive,” Koevermans concluded.