This season, PSV Eindhoven is facing challenges for the first time. Despite winning every match against Dutch opponents, they encountered a stumbling block last weekend with a 1-1 draw in Utrecht. The setback continued as they were surprisingly eliminated from the KNVB Cup by Feyenoord (1-0) during the week. These were the only two games where PSV didn’t dominate, and the absence of midfielders Joey Veerman (injury) and Ismaël Saibari (Africa Cup of Nations) appears to be affecting the team.
While the opportunity to break records faded, PSV remains in an excellent position with a lead of at least ten points over competitors. Celebrating the one-year anniversary of their last Eredivisie loss last week (W29, D5) is a noteworthy achievement. PSV scored in all 34 games, making Feyenoord’s cup clean sheet during the week more special.
Although not evident from the standings, the clash between PSV and Almere City is also a duel between the two goalkeepers with the most shutouts this season. Nordin Bakker secured his goal for the seventh time last Wednesday, ranking second only to Walter Benítez with 11.
Almere City’s scoring struggles were evident as they failed to score again that evening, with only 19 Eredivisie goals this term, including a 5-0 win over Vitesse. Leading goalscorer Thomas Robinet has seven, but no other Almere player has scored more than twice. The hope rests on Jason van Duiven, an 18-year-old striker on loan from opponent PSV, still awaiting his first goal at the highest level.
Players to watch are Guus Til, who provided a goal and an assist in the previous meeting with Almere, and for the visitors, Peer Koopmeiners, who registered an assist in half of his last six appearances.
A hot stat: PSV has scored at least twice in each of their last 17 Eredivisie home games, winning the last nine by a 2+ goal margin.
