Preview: Almere City vs. PSV Eindhoven - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors are the team to beat so far, topping the Eredivisie table despite still having a game in hand.

Match preview

After such a phenomenal start, PSV did suffer a chastening defeat in North London on Wednesday in the Champions League.

Manager Peter Bosz came in for criticism for his naivety, playing such an aggressive high line which played right into Arsenal's hands.

The Gunners exposed their backline time and time again, running out comfortable 4-0 winners at the Emirates.

Those tactics have been working domestically though, as PSV are one of three sides still with a 100% record in the Eredivisie.

Four-nil wins over RKC Waalwijk and NEC Nijmegen either side of the international break sees them top, with 13 goals scored and just one conceded, but the quality is much lower compared to in Europe.

The Arsenal defeat is PSV's first of the season, as in Europe they also breezed through qualifying, recording aggregate wins of 7-2 and 7-3 against Sturm Graz and Rangers, respectively.

Before returning to Champions League action against Sevilla in two weeks' time, PSV have three very kind fixtures in the league.

Almere next, followed by bottom-placed Volendam, and Go Ahead Eagles should see PSV pick up nine points, and could give Bosz the opportunity to rotate.

This is just the second-ever meeting between these two sides, the first of which came in a KNVB Beker tie back in 2014, where PSV ran out comfortable 5-1 winners, with Georginio Wijnaldum bagging a brace.

A similar scoreline could be on the cards despite Almere's recent rise, but this will still be a fairytale fixture for a side which has risen through the Dutch football pyramid.

Losing both of their home matches so far is an ominous sign though, with a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Twente being followed up by a 2-1 loss to Zwolle.

The Zwolle clash emphasised just how cruel life can be at this level, as the roof came off the Yanmar Stadion when Joey Jacobs scored a 95th-minute equaliser, only for Apostolos Vellios to go up the other end and win it for the visitors.

Almere were rock bottom after four games too thanks to losing both of their first two away games - 2-1 at Fortuna Sittard, and a damaging 6-1 loss at De Kuip against champions Feyenoord.

However, another trip to Rotterdam last week saw them pick up their first-ever Eredivisie point, holding Excelsior to a 0-0 draw.

In the five games following this encounter, Almere do not face any of last season's top five, so they have to target that run of games to try to move out of the bottom three.

Ensuring they do not take another huge hit on their already-worrying goal difference of -10 is imperative here against PSV too.

Almere City Eredivisie form:

L

L

L

L

D

PSV Eindhoven Eredivisie form:

PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions):

W

D

W

W

W

L

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Team News

Bosz could tinker with his PSV defence again after making changes for the Arsenal game.

Andre Ramalho and Patrick van Aanholt were left out at the Emirates but could return having both started the last two league games.

Fellow defenders Mauro Junior and Armando Obispo are both out though, along with Fredrik Oppegard, who is recovering from surgery.

Faiz Mattoir is the only injury absentee for Almere, as a knee injury has kept him out all year.

Loic Mbe Soh made his debut as a late substitute in the draw at Excelsior after moving from Nottingham Forest late in the transfer window.

Yann Kitala also made his first appearance for the club, but fellow new signing Samuel Sahin-Radlinger was an unused sub.

Despite some notable incomings late in the window, Almere lost influential winger Anthony Limbombe to Belgian side Waasland-Beveren, after he contributed to 14 league goals last season.

Almere City possible starting lineup:

Bakker; Floranus, Van Bruggen, Barbet, Royo Castell; Akujobi, Resink, Koopmeiners, Ritmeester van de Kamp, Van la Parra; Robinet

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Dest, Ramalho, Bella-Kotchap; Van Aanholt; Schouten, Veerman, Saibari; Bakayoko, De Jong, Lang

We say: Almere City 0-4 PSV Eindhoven

PSV should easily bounce back from their disappointing display in midweek by beating one of the favourites for relegation.

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