Pepi's Scoring Streak Continues

Striker Scored His in Third in Three Matches Across All Competitions Despite PSV Defeat in the Champions League

Ricardo Pepi maintained his impressive goal-scoring form on Tuesday, netting his third Champions League goal of the season in PSV Eindhoven's 3-2 home defeat to Atletico Madrid. The American striker came off the bench to provide a late spark, though it ultimately proved insufficient to salvage a result for the reigning Eredivisie champions.

PSV started brightly at Philips Stadion when Guus Til opened the scoring in the 10th minute, finishing easily after a precise setup from Couhaib Driouech. However, Atletico Madrid responded with characteristic resilience, equalizing through Julian Alvarez after 22 minutes when he capitalized on a defensive mistake to intercept a misplaced goal-kick. The Spanish side seized control after halftime, with David Hancko converting from close range following a save from Nahuel Molina's initial attempt. Alexander Sorloth extended the advantage by heading home Pablo Barrios' cross, putting Atletico up 3-1 before the hour mark.

Pepi entered the match in the 73rd minute and wasted little time making an impact. With five minutes remaining, the former FC Dallas product arrived perfectly at the back post to hammer home Ivan Perisic's flicked header after a corner kick, briefly reigniting PSV's hopes. Despite mounting pressure and a squandered close-range opportunity from defender Armando Obispo, PSV couldn't find the equalizer. The goal marked Pepi's third consecutive match finding the net across all competitions, adding to his weekend strike against Heerenveen that brought his Eredivisie tally to five goals in just 511 minutes. His consistent production—now seven goals overall this season—continues to create a difficult selection dilemma for PSV manager Peter Bosz.

The defeat dropped PSV to 19th in the Champions League standings, representing their first loss since mid-September. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid climbed to seventh position, strengthening their quarterfinal aspirations. Pepi's well-rounded skill set and ability to score in various ways, including aerial prowess, keeps him firmly in contention for both club playing time and a potential starting role with the USMNT. PSV will look to rebound Saturday against Heracles Almelo in Eredivisie action.