Following last weekend's championship win, PSV will play an away match at Excelsior on Saturday. The match against the number 14 of the Eredivisie starts at 20.45 at Stadion Woudestein. PSV won fourteen of the last fifteen meetings with Excelsior and were victorious in the last seven duels.
PSV lets Excelsior get relegated
It has been a while since PSV visited Excelsior in league action. For the past two seasons, the Rotterdammers played in the Jupiler League, until the club promoted through the nacompetition last season. On May 6, 2012, PSV managed to win 1-3 against Excelsior and as a result the club relegated from the Eredivisie. Dries Mertens, Jeremain Lens and Georginio Wijnaldum scored for PSV. Luigi Bruins, currently playing again for Excelsior, scored the opposing goal from the penalty spot.
PSV became national champions last weekend against sc Heerenveen | © Pics United
Excelsior not yet safe
At this moment Excelsior is not yet completely sure of maintaining their position. Coach Marinus Dijkhuizen's team is in fourteenth place in the Eredivisie and is only three points ahead of NAC Breda, which is in sixteenth place. Excelsior could use some extra points. In recent weeks, however, they have been unable to get the points they need. The club has been waiting for a win in six games and only managed two points.
Champion against sc Heerenveen
PSV became Dutch champions Saturday against sc Heerenveen for the first time since 2008. PSV recorded a convincing 4-1 victory over the Frisians and then celebrated the championship in the stadium. The next day it was one big party in Eindhoven, when PSV was honored on the Stadhuisplein. After these celebrations, PSV has three more games to play, starting with Excelsior. Should PSV win from Excelsior on Saturday and then also beat Heracles Almelo and ADO Den Haag, PSV will gain as many points as in the 2004-2005 and 1985-1986 seasons (converted to the three-point system).
Victory with a red edge
In the eighth round of play this season, PSV and Excelsior also faced each other. At Philips Stadium, Phillip Cocu's team won 3-0. Adam Maher, Luciano Narsingh and Jürgen Locadia scored goals on behalf of PSV. Defender Jeffrey Bruma was sent off with a red card after an hour of play for allegedly bringing down Tom van Weert, who had broken through. Head coach Phillip Cocu disagreed with the decision, made it abundantly clear to referee Serdar Gözübüyük and was subsequently sent to the stands.
Jeffrey Bruma received a red card in the home game against Excelsior | © Pics United
Injuries and suspensions
Cocu will not have all the players at PSV's disposal on Saturday. Santiago Arias, Joshua Brenet, Nigel Bertrams, Jorrit Hendrix and Florian Jozefzoon are all injured. Dijkhuizen also does not have an injury-free selection at Excelsior. Goalkeeper Alessandro Damen, Luigi Bruins and Kevin Vermeulen are injured and will have to miss the match against PSV.