PSV D1 played the traditionally tricky (away) match against Willem II/RKC D1 on Saturday. Although the Tilburgers pose no real threat to PSV this season, unlike previous seasons, they often manage to rise above themselves against PSV. So it certainly wasn't a winnable match beforehand.

PSV is dangerous right from the kickoff. The first attack leads to a corner that is eventually shot wide by Dante Rigo. After this opportunity, PSV maintains the initiative and puts constant pressure on Willem II/RKC. The Tilburgers only sporadically get out of it. After 5 minutes there is an attack that ends with Mink Peeters via Dante. Mink passes his opponent and shoots from the right in front. Another 5 minutes later Matthias Verreth is close to the opening goal when a corner by Mink is headed away and Matthias shoots the ball with a volley on the bar. So chances for PSV, but still no goal. In the 16th minute, Mink is close again when a corner via Matthias reaches Joey Konings. His effort ends up with Mink hitting the post. After this second ball on the aluminum, Dante and Matthias were dangerous with shots but they too just missed the target. After all these opportunities, PSV has to score the opening goal (although sometimes it falls on the other side ...). It is indeed PSV that scores and that happens in the 26th minute. Mink takes a high ball well, shows his opponent his heels and places the ball in the far corner: 0-1. A deserved lead, but it is almost given away shortly before halftime when a Willem II corner rolls just wide of Ieke Scheerhoorn's goal. Relieved, PSV went into the break, the first danger from Willem II did not lead to a goal against.

Also after halftime, PSV is on top. Claudio Braga's men got off to a fresh start, which led to an opportunity for Mink in the 2nd minute. A few minutes later an attack via Ertem Bölükbas and Dante reaches Matthias, but he too fails to pass the goalkeeper. The next opportunities in the match are for Joey (side netting) on Ertem's pass and for Mink (foot short) on Joey's pass. PSV is stronger, plays better football, but does not yet know how to express this in goals. The danger of an unfortunate goal still hangs in the air. In the 13th minute, Willem II is put at a bigger disadvantage. Matthias played himself free on the right with a fine action and laid wide to Joey, who sprinted into the penalty area and shot hard and high for the 0-2. Not much later the game was decided for good. An attack through the center led to Matthias, who shot from about 18 meters out and made it 0-3. Three minutes later he was close to his second goal when he extended a Giovanni Nicolaas effort but the ball went inches wide. Meanwhile also traditional is the goal from a standard situation. This time a free kick and subsequent tangle lead to the 1-3 a few minutes before time. There is no final offensive by Willem II because PSV is simply too strong. Shortly before the end signal a beautiful action and ditto cross from Ertem to Zohair Labyad but he was stopped by the goalkeeper.

In the end, PSV scored a simple and deserved 1-3 victory over Willem II/RKC. The victory tastes even better due to the loss of number 2 FC Den Bosch which increased the lead to 5 loss points. Next week awaits the tricky home game against NAC Breda which is now 2nd and also has 5 more loss points than PSV. In Breda NAC surprisingly won 1-0 so PSV has been warned.