The absolute topper against Ajax is scheduled for Sunday. PSV itself is unbeaten for nine rounds of matches and wants to take second place from the Amsterdammers. With victories from the last three mutual meetings with Ajax in their pocket, PSV now wants to continue this series at home.
Earlier this season, PSV won 2-1 at the Arena. Luuk de Jong (23') and Érick Gutiérrez (50') were the celebrated men on PSV's side. Earlier, PSV seized the Johan Cruijff Schaal in a goal-rich game - which also marked Ruud van Nistelrooij's official debut as PSV head coach. Guus Til rewarded his debut with a hat-trick (5-3). PSV also won the final of the TOTO KNVB Beker. Within a minute and a half, PSV managed to turn the 0-1 deficit into a 2-1 lead.
Positive balance
PSV won 32 of the 66 encounters with Ajax at home. Of the remaining 34 matches, Ajax stepped off the field victorious 17 times. The game also ended in a tie 17 times.
With and against each other
Ruud van Nistelrooij and John Heitinga faced each other last season as trainers of the pledges in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. Both trainers won their home matches. Van Nistelrooij and Heitinga were active in Oranje together at the European Championship. In 2004, during the quarterfinals, they both used their penalties in the penalty shootout against Sweden.
True fortress
Twelve of the 14 home matches at the Philips Stadium have been won by PSV. They only lost points against AZ (0-1) and Sparta Rotterdam (0-0). PSV also won nine of its last 10 matches in all competitions.
Strong in top games
Ruud van Nistelrooij (W3-G1-V0) can become the third PSV coach in professional football to remain unbeaten in his first five meetings with Ajax and Feyenoord (all competitions). Guus Hiddink and Hans Westerhof preceded him.
Four in a row
Xavi Simons and Fábio Silva were goalscoring in each of PSV's last four home games in the Eredivisie. A run of at least five games dates back to 2019. Back then, Donyell Malen Wist put up five in a row.
Luuks' goals
Luuk de Jong scored once in each of his last four Eredivisie matches against Ajax, with PSV from 2017/2018. These were two goals with his head and two with his right foot.
