Juventus beat PSV in their Champions League opener earlier this season, but Thiago Motta expects a tough challenge in the playoffs.

Juve started the league phase with a 3-1 win over the Dutch side in September, but tailed off in the latter stages, finishing 20th in the league and in need of a playoff to reach the last 16 of the competition.

That was their first-ever meeting with PSV in major European competition, and Juventus have lost just three of their 15 matches against Dutch opponents (D1 L4) in the Champions League/European Cup (W7 D5).

They have lost two of their four home matches in the Champions League this season (W2); Juventus have never lost three or more such games in a single campaign in the competition.

PSV, meanwhile, finished 14th after beating top-of-the-table Liverpool, who had won all seven of their games prior to that meeting, and Motta knows Juventus are in for a battle.

"We played a good game against PSV at that point but a lot of things have changed, both here and there," Motta told reporters ahead of Tuesday's first leg in Turin.

"[Tuesday] is a different story. [It] is a different game, and we're focused on doing our job well. We saw in the first leg that we had some very good moments in the game. We took advantage of that and finished the actions we'd set up well.

"But at the same time, we suffered from their passing and possession. The arrival of the two full-backs, who came in very well from behind. The midfielders who can give the team a bit more balance but also give the team a lot of space."

Juventus suffered their first Serie A defeat in January, losing to Napoli, before losing to Benfica in the Champions League, missing the chance to finish higher up the table. 

While the Bianconeri won their two most recent games, they were second-best on Friday at Como despite the 2-1 victory.

"We saw in the last match, even if it is not a good example, the resilience of this group has increased a lot," Motta added.

"We were able to win a game without playing well. But that's no use at all. As an example, yes, it's a positive point. You manage to win a game where you don't play better than your opponent.

"It's a positive point, but we know that's not the way. [On Tuesday] we need to play a different type of game, a very complete game to compete against a strong team and get the win."

Juventus will have French forward Randal Kolo Muani available who, since his arrival on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, has scored five goals in three games. He has scored in three matches in a row in Serie A (vs Napoli, Empoli and Como.

Such is his recent form, he has kept the team's top scorer, Dusan Vlahovic, out of the starting side.

"He and his team-mates have done very well. This is a team where a single player on his own doesn't go anywhere. Randal, like everyone else, knows that very well," Motta said.

"Everyone wants to play, and they know full well that what matters is the quality of the minutes they play, not the number of minutes they play in a game or in a season.

"Dusan has done a lot so far. I'm convinced that if he plays tomorrow, he'll definitely help."