The gap between the top three and the sub-top has grown to 12 points in the four games after the winter break. Leader of the subtop is number four FC Utrecht, today PSV's opponent. A preview of this game.
On a roll after winter
FC Utrecht won three of the four duels after the winter break. Only against Ajax did it lose 1-0. The other three duels Utrecht won, each time with one goal difference. That while top scorer Sébastien Haller has yet to find the net in 2017. Yet he is still the club's top scorer with nine goals, five more than Richairo Zivkovic, the number two on the list.
Seven absentees at Utrecht
FC Utrecht will miss a large number of players in the match against PSV. Besides the already injured Robbin Ruiter, Kevin Conboy, Rico Strieder and Edson Braafheid, coach Erik ten Hag is now also missing Sofyan Amrabat and Wout Brama due to injuries. Andreas Ludwig picked up the 100th red card for FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie last week and is therefore suspended against PSV.
Labyad
Due to the large number of absentees, Zakaria Labyad seems likely to play. Between 2010 and 2012 he reached 45 Eredivisie matches for PSV, after which he left for Sporting Lisbon. As of last summer he was clubless, after which FC Utrecht picked him up in January. He filled in once this season.
Last point loss in 1996
FC Utrecht won only once of the 46 Eredivisie matches against PSV at the Philips Stadium. 40 times the three points stayed in Eindhoven. The last time PSV lost points at home against FC Utrecht was on March 16, 1996 (0-0). Coach Phillip Cocu was then on the field for PSV.
Ramselaar
PSV won the last eight premier league matches, away and at home, against FC Utrecht. PSV did lose 3-1 at home to FC Utrecht in the KNVB Beker on Feb. 4, 2016, due to two goals by Bart Ramselaar, then playing for the visitors. Earlier this season, it was 2-1 for PSV in Utrecht. Haller scored in the 16th minute, then Pröpper (51') and Pereiro (80') turned the score around.
Ramselaar took on PSV with Utrecht earlier this season