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

Roger Schmidt's side became the first in Dutch top-flight history to win their opening 14 league games in a season after winning at Feyenoord on Sunday.

Match preview

As a Champions League representative, PSV have been given a Thursday fixture slot in order to provide more time to prepare for their matchday six encounter next week, but a dramatic win at Sevilla means they are already through.

Less time to recover from their superb showing at the weekend should not be much of a problem for Schmidt's men either, given how superior PSV have proved to be domestically this season.

Fourteen wins to start the season is unprecedented in Dutch football, and they beat their own record from the 2018-19 season where PSV won their opening 13 matches.

That year they remarkably did not win the title, losing out to Ajax, but they only had a five-point lead after 13 games, whereas this time around, PSV find themselves 10 points clear.

While the title will be the first objective, the supporters will be wishing and hoping some points records can be toppled, as PSV's best is 88, while the best in Eredivisie history is held by Johan Cruyff's Ajax side from 1971-72, who amassed 93.

Sunday's win over Feyenoord was their first at De Kuip since 2018, and leaves them as huge favourites to go on and win the title, with Arne Slot's side still their nearest challengers, but a long way back.

It rounded off a perfect week as a victory in Sevilla on Wednesday, coming from 2-0 down to win, paired with Lens' defeat at Arsenal saw them through to the knockouts of the Champions League.

Arsenal are next up in midweek for PSV, and they remain the only team to have beaten them this season in 23 matches, with Schmidt's side recording 19 wins in that time.

Heerenveen will come to the Philips Stadion full of confidence though, and with a very respectable recent record here to back up that belief.

Kees van Wonderen was the last manager to prevent PSV from winning at home domestically, drawing 3-3 in May, and that result was a continuation of a strong recent record against the league leaders.

Two draws in the last three meetings here mean PSV have won only eight of their last 16 home encounters against Heerenveen, and the visitors bring strong recent form into the clash as well.

Van Wonderen saw his side end a five-game losing streak on the road in their previous away outing at Vitesse just before the international break.

That has spurred them on and they have picked up where they left off since returning to club action, winning back-to-back games.

Fortuna Sittard and Almere City were both beaten 3-0, taking Heerenveen from just above the relegation zone to the Europa Conference League playoff places.

The visitors come into the match seventh, one point above Ajax, but this will almost be the ceiling of what they can achieve this season, with an 11-point buffer between themselves and Twente in the automatic Europa League spot.

PSV Eindhoven Eredivisie form:

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PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions):

Heerenveen Eredivisie form:

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Team News

Jordan Teze is expected to be absent for PSV after a gruesome head collision with Feyenoord's Quilindschy Hartman at the weekend forced him off after 10 minutes.

Mauro Junior and Patrick van Aanholt are the likely candidates to deputise, but elsewhere in defence, Armel Bella-Kotchap is absent with a shoulder injury.

Wide men Hirving Lozano and Noa Lang are also out injured for the hosts, but Ismael Saibari has come into the side with great effect, scoring in the wins in Seville and Rotterdam, and he should retain his place in the side.

Heerenveen have been unchanged since the break given their strong form, and there is little to suggest Van Wonderen will tinker with his personnel here.

Pelle van Amersfoort has been in superb form, scoring six in his last five games, including a brace in the weekend win over Almere.

There are just two injury concerns for the visitors, with Pawel Bochniewicz and Jan Bekkema expected to remain sidelined.

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Mauro Junior, Schouten, Boscagli, Van Aanholt; Veerman, Sambo, Saibari; Bakayoko, De Jong, Vertessen

Heerenveen possible starting lineup:

Noppert; Bruade, Van Beek, Van Ottele, Kohlert; Haye, Brouwers, Olsson; Nunnely, Van Amersfoort, Sahraoui

We say: PSV Eindhoven 3-1 Heerenveen

After winning away to the reigning champions on Sunday, it appears nobody will be able to stop PSV in their tracks this season, and a record-extending win is on the cards.

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