PSVvs.Go Ahead Eagles

With the second and seventh-placed teams in the Eredivisie table suffering disappointing results in their most recent domestic fixtures, this is an opportunity to hand their campaign a major boost.

Match preview

Having disposed of Juventus in the Champions League, PSV currently find themselves on a high ahead of squaring off against Arsenal in the last 16.

Nevertheless, the defence of their Eredivisie title is now in major jeopardy on the back of just one win from their last six matches.

Three successive draws - at the same time as Ajax have continued with their prolonged winning streak - have left Peter Bosz's side five points adrift of the leaders with 11 matches remaining.

As a result, winning this competition for the third time in four seasons has taken on greater importance, particularly when the likes of Ajax and Feyenoord have already been eliminated.

PSV edged out the latter of those teams in the quarter-finals having previously overcome Koninklijke HFC and Excelsior, who were only defeated by a 5-4 scoreline after extra time.

Meanwhile, Go Ahead Eagles are bidding to move ever closer to a first-ever triumph in this competition, their best effort a runners-up finish in 1964-65.

Paul Simonis witnessed his side succumb to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ajax at the weekend, trips to the two biggest clubs in the Netherlands in the space of three days a harsh outcome.

However, this is a team that has suffered just two defeats in their last 12 fixtures, Go Ahead Eagles having scored in every game under drawing a blank at Ajax.

Despite that setback, they remain in seventh place in the Eredivisie - eight points clear of the chasing pack - but this tie is very much their priority in the short term.

Go Ahead Eagles have overcome Sparta Rotterdam, FC Twente and VV Noordwijk to reach this stage of the competition.

PSV Eindhoven KNVB Beker form:

W

W

W

PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions):

D

W

D

L

D

W

Go Ahead Eagles KNVB Beker form:

W

W

W

Go Ahead Eagles form (all competitions):

W

D

W

L

W

L

Team News

Having a week off since the Juventus triumph may encourage Bosz to select a similar starting lineup for this contest.

However, Guus Til and Johan Bakayoko were high-profile names to start the previous fixture on the substitutes' bench and may be recalled here.

Ivan Perisic may plausibly be handed an extended rest, the 36-year-old having started three games in quick succession before the recent break.

Although Gerrit Nauber was sent off for Go Ahead Eagles at Ajax, the defender's ban only applies to the Eredivisie and he will be free to feature in this game.

The magnitude of the game essentially ensures that Simonis will make minimal changes, midfielder Evert Linthorst in line to start having come through 64 minutes on Sunday having recovered from a minor injury.

Oscar Pettersson, Luca Everink, Finn Stokkers and Soren Tengstedt have all recently been sidelined.

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Ledesma, Flamingo, Boscagli, Junior; Schouten, Veerman; Bakayoko, Til, Lang; De Jong

Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:

Busser; Deijl, Nauber, Kramer, James; Llansana, Linthorst; Antman, Breum, Suray; Edvardsen

We say: PSV Eindhoven 2-0 Go Ahead Eagles

Given their faltering Eredivisie title campaign, success in this competition for PSV has taken on new importance. With that in mind, we are backing the home side to come through with a win and clean sheet, potentially netting in either half to ease out the visitors.

Written by

Darren Plant

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