Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven will be out to maintain their perfect start to the domestic league season when they lock horns with Sparta Rotterdam at the Philips Stadion on Saturday evening.
The hosts are already perched atop the league standings with a maximum of 21 points after their first seven games of the season, while the visitors are in seventh place with 10 points over the same period.
Match preview
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PSV have begun the season excellently and look like they are well on their way to back-to-back titles, five points clear of surprise contenders Utrecht in second place, though the latter have a game in hand.
However, for all their dominance domestically, the Farmers are yet to find the same type of success in Europe, having failed to win either of their first two Champions League matches this term.
The most recent fixture saw the Red and Whites play out a 1-1 draw against Primeira Liga champions Sporting Lisbon in midweek, with Daniel Braganca cancelling out Jerdy Schouten's opener in the final 10 minutes of the match.
Still, that result extended Peter Bosz's side's unbeaten run in all competitions to three in a row and also maintained their record of scoring in every match they have featured in this season.
On home soil, PSV have already rattled in 10 goals in three league games this season and have won 27 of their last 30 top-flight matches at this venue dating back to a 1-0 defeat against AZ Alkmaar in November 2022.
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Meanwhile, Sparta Rotterdam have made a steady start to the new season, though their record to date pales in comparison to their upcoming opponents, who they already trail by 11 points this early in the campaign.
De Kasteelheren were held to a fairly disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Fortuna Sittard last weekend, marking their third stalemate on their home patch, while their only other match in front of their home fans ended in defeat to Go Ahead Eagles.
On the road, though, Sparta have done their best work this season, taking seven points from a possible nine, notching up a draw against Twente and back-to-back wins over Willem II and RKC Waalwijk leading up to this one.
However, Jeroen Rijsdijk will know that his side face a huge step up in class of opponents here as compared to their last two outings, having not bested the defending champions in their last 13 attempts, losing 11 and drawing just twice.
During their winless streak against PSV, which dates back to October 2016, Sparta have been outscored 27-10 in this fixture, including a 4-2 loss in their most recent encounter at the start of May.
Team News
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PSV were dealt an injury blow in their victory against Willem II last week, with Joey Veerman sustaining a groin injury which is expected to keep him out of action until the end of this month.
The midfielder will be joined on the sidelined this weekend by three fellow injury absentees in Sergino Dest (cruciate ligament tear), Fredrik Oppegard (knock) and Hirving Lozano (muscle).
Sparta Rotterdam, on the other hand, have just one known doubt for this match in the form of young right-winger Kayky, who is out for the foreseeable future with a serious knee injury.
Camiel Neghli has been in good form this season for the visitors, netting three goals in their last five matches, and he will almost certainly lead the line here alongside Tobias Lauritsen and Mohamed Nassoh.
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Junior, Flamingo, Boscagli, Dams; Schouten, Til, Saibari; Tillman, De Jong, Bakayoko
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Reith, Quintero, Eerdhuijzen, Van der Kust; Clement, Kitolano, Verschueren; Neghli, Nassoh, Lauritsen
We say: PSV Eindhoven 3-1 Sparta Rotterdam
While PSV have not found their absolute best form in Europe as yet this season, their domestic league form has been incredible, and we feel they will ease to another home victory in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
![The Netherlands' Joey Veerman pictured in June 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/11/29/1x1.gif?w=1&h=1 "The Netherlands' Joey Veerman pictured in June 2024 [IMAGO]")
