Aiming to avoid their second defeat of the league campaign, pacesetters PSV Eindhoven will make the trip to face SBV Excelsior at Van Donge & De Roo Stadion on Tuesday night in the Eredivisie.
The Kralingers' worrying winless run continued last time out at Go Ahead Eagles, whilst PSV experienced losing in the league for the first time in 2023-24.
Match preview
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After avoiding the relegation playoffs by just four points last season, SBV Excelsior are flirting with automatic relegation this term, with Tuesday's hosts extending their winless spell in the Eredivisie to nine matches last time out with a three-goal defeat at Go Ahead Eagles.
The Kralingers managed to hold their own for the opening 40 minutes at De Adelaarshorst before Willum Willumsson found the net for the hosts, before strikes from Gerrit Nauber and Evert Linthorst wrapped up maximum points for an Eagles side who are fighting for Europa Conference League football next term.
Following a brilliant run of just the single defeat in the opening eight matches of the Eredivisie campaign, Marinus Dijkhuizen's men have managed only the single victory since October, leaving them in 16th place, one point behind RKC Waalwijk in the relative safety of 15th.
Excelsior have netted more goals than any of the other sides who occupy a place in the bottom seven of the top-flight standings, but it is SBV's defending that is keeping them in serious trouble, with the Kralingers conceding an eye-watering total of 60 goals in just 27 league outings.
After navigating a competitive Eredivisie campaign to the very end of March without tasting defeat, PSV proved that they are human on Saturday afternoon, when the runaway league leaders were defeated by a spirited NEC side at Goffertstadion - a venue that Rogier Meijer's side have now won eight-straight matches at across all competitions.
PSV looked set for another routine victory en route to the Dutch crown when winger Johan Bakayoko fired the visitors into a first-half advantage after 20 minutes, but a remarkable comeback from NEC followed, with goals from Lasse Schone, Kodai Sano and Sylla Sow turning the contest on its head.
Having netted an impressive 22 Eredivisie goals in 27 appearances this term, Eindhoven's leading marksman Luuk de Jong failed to hold his nerve from 12 yards out on Saturday, although the 33-year-old has still scored 14 more league goals than any of his first-team teammates.
Looking to lift their first league title in six years, Peter Bosz's side are seven points ahead of second-placed Feyenoord with seven matches left to play, with Tuesday's hosts also possessing a 19-strong advantage in terms of goal difference when compared to their title rivals from Rotterdam.
Team News
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Suffering a hamstring injury in the middle of March, left-back Arthur Zagre is not expected to be back in action for Excelsior on Tuesday night.
Due to this, it is highly likely that Lazaros Lamprou will continue on the left side of the Kralingers' backline, should they opt to remain with a back five.
There could be changes to the Excelsior XI after the drubbing at Go Ahead last time out, with the likes of Richie Omorowa and Derensili Sanches Fernandes pushing for starts.
PSV have a single long-term absentee within their ranks, with former Club Brugge winger Noa Lang sidelined for the remainder of the term due to a serious hamstring injury.
Hirving Lozano did not re-emerge following the half-time interval at NEC, meaning that American Malik Tillman could replace the Mexican in the visitors' side for this one.
SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:
Van Gassel; Horemans, Nieuwpoort, De Moes; Benita, Goudmijn, Driouech, Baas, Lamprou; Omorowa, Duijvestijn
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Teze, Silva, Boscagli, Dest; Schouten, Veerman; Tillman, Junior, Bakayoko; De Jong
We say: SBV Excelsior 1-3 PSV Eindhoven
After the weekend's disappointment in Nijmegen, PSV will be raring to get back to winning ways versus an Excelsior side who are in the midst of a concerning winless spell.
The Kralingers have failed to win their last four Eredivisie home matches, and we are fully expecting that statistic to stretch to five matches on Tuesday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
