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

Both teams have had mixed results in recent weeks and will be looking to put together a good run of form as the season progresses into its second quarter.

Match preview

PSV Eindhoven claimed their first Europa League victory in grand style as they demolished FC Zurich 5-1 at the Letzigrund Stadion on Thursday.

Yorbe Vertessen and Cody Gakpo starred for Ruud van Nistelrooy's men with two goals apiece, while Xavi Simons also got in on the act before Jonathan Okita pulled one back late on.

This came off the back of a 3-0 defeat to Cambuur for the Rood-Witten who have now dropped to third place in the Eredivisie standings as a result.

Up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit without a victory in any of the last eight meetings between the teams stretching back to 2018.

Having suffered consecutive league defeats away from home leading up to Sunday's contest, the visitors now set out to pick up where they left off in the continental front last time out.

Heerenveen had to settle for a share of the spoils in Sunday's meeting against FC Emmen at De Oude Meerdijk which ended in a goalless stalemate.

Despite having the lion's share of the ball possession, Kees van Wonderen's men were unable to find the all-important breakthrough needed to turn one point into three.

Nonetheless, De Superfriezen remain sixth in the league table, five points adrift of this weekend's opponents ahead of the what promises to be an absorbing affair.

With just two goals conceded in four home matches this term, Sunday's hosts have proven themselves to be a tough nut to crack in front of their fans.

Heerenveen Eredivisie form:

W

W

D

L

W

D

PSV Eindhoven Eredivisie form:

W

W

L

W

W

L

PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions):

L

D

W

W

L

W

Team News

PSV's Noni Madueke continues to battle with an ankle injury, while Netherlands international Luuk de Jong is yet to shake off a calf problem.

Twenty-four-year-old Olivier Boscagli is also unavailable for the visitors due to a long-term knee injury which has kept him out of action since April.

Following his impressive display against Zurich, Cody Gakpo has now been directly involved in 22 goals this season - the joint most of any player in European football so far alongside Erling Haaland.

Tibor Halilovic will be pushing for a place in the Heerenveen starting lineup here having made his return to action from a two-game suspension against Emmen.

Joost van Aken was absent from the aforementioned game and it remains to be seen whether the defender will be fit enough to play a part in this one.

Heerenveen possible starting lineup:

Noppert; Kohlert, Van Ottele, Bochniewicz, Van Beek, Van Ewijk; Tahiri, Haye, Olsson; Sarr, Van Hooijdonk

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Max, Obispo, Ramalho, Mwene; Veerman, Sangare; Gakpo, Simons, Saibari; Vertessen

We say: Heerenveen 1-3 PSV Eindhoven

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