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

Meanwhile, the away side make the journey to Philips Stadion having avoided defeat in consecutive matches for the first time since the turn of the year last time out.

Match preview

PSV Eindhoven booked their place in the grand finale of this year's KNVB Beker courtesy of a 2-1 victory over lower league opposition Spakenburg on Tuesday.

Quickfire goals either side of half time from Erick Gutierrez and Patrick van Aanholt put Ruud van Nistelrooy's men in the driving seat before Dwayne Green pulled one back just shy of the hour mark.

Prior to that, the Rood-witten saw off the threat of NEC in a 4-2 win which saw them move up to third place in the Eredivisie table, level on points with defending champions Ajax and eight behind division leaders Feyenoord.

Coming up next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who have been beaten in all but two of the last 21 meetings between the teams stretching back to 2002.

Off the back of eight straight home victories, Saturday's hosts have been firing on all cylinders in front of their fans and will head into this weekend's action with the wind in their sails.

Excelsior showed great resolve to hold FC Twente to a goalless share of the spoils in the sides' encounter at Van Donge & De Roo Stadion on Saturday.

Marinus Dijkhuizen's men were under the cosh for large spells of the contest but managed to come away with a point, thanks in no small to Stijn van Gassel's heroics between the sticks.

However, the Kralingers have now slipped into the relegation zone in the league standings, albeit only on goal difference with seven rounds of matches left to play.

Currently on a run of seven away defeats on the spin, Sunday's visitors now prepare for what is set to be another baptism of fire on enemy territory, where they have been breached 38 times in 13 games this term.

PSV Eindhoven Eredivisie form:

D

W

W

W

D

W

PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

W

W

SBV Excelsior Eredivisie form:

L

L

L

L

W

D

Team News

PSV's Walter Benitez is still sidelined with a damaged knee, and the Argentine is still a considerable way off making his return to action.

Mauro Junior and Armando Obispo are also ruled out with knee problems, while 20-year-old Fode Fofana continues his battle with a muscle injury.

Thorgan Hazard stepped up his comeback with yet another cameo appearance in midweek, and the Belgian could finally earn a recall to the starting lineup.

Excelsior's trio of Vicente Besuijen, Maxime Awoudja and Adrian Fein remain unavailable for selection this weekend through respective muscle injuries.

The away side will also be without the services of Jacky Donkor as the forward prepares to miss a 15th straight game due to a knee injury.

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:

Drommel; Van Aanholt, Boscagli, Ramalho, Mwene; Veerman, Gutierrez, Til; Simons, Hazard, De Jong

SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:

Van Gassel; Zagre, El Yaakoubi, Nieuwpoort, Horemans; Baas, Koopmeiners; Driouech, Goudmijn, Lamprou; Agrafiotis

We say: PSV Eindhoven 3-1 SBV Excelsior

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