Two rounds of play before the end of the season, PSV is still on course for a place in the qualification phase of the UEFA Champions League. Thanks to a win over Willem II, the team holds AZ to one point.
Van Ginkel's comeback
Despite Marco van Ginkel's return to the starting lineup, PSV initially had some trouble finding their way to the Tilburg goal. The defensively positioned Willem II (in a 5-3-2 formation) had to allow a blocked shot by Cody Gakpo in the first quarter of an hour and see off a near breakaway by Donyell Malen. The home team, which was completely impotent in attack, succeeded. After the first quarter of an hour, PSV gained some steam: Noni Madueke played himself free between the lines and hit the post with a shot from distance.
Vertessen puts Malen in position
It was the prelude to the 0-1, which Malen scored in the 27th minute. Yorbe Vertessen Vertessen, in the starting line-up in place of the missing Mario Götze, pushed forward strongly and, while falling, enabled Malen to press the 0-1 behind goalkeeper Muric. Madueke and certainly Malen could have made the score more comfortable before halftime, but failed to pass the Tilburg goalkeeper again.
Control
Nevertheless, the lead was deserved. PSV gave Willem II no chance and had almost 80% (!) ball possession at the end of the first half. In the second half, the team surrendered a few percent of that, but PSV's control remained great. An own goal by Köhn early after the resumption only strengthened that control. Gakpo could have even made it 0-3 one-on-one with Muric after that, but the latter converted.
PEC Zwolle and FC Utrecht remain
Where the third goal failed to materialize, the three points did not. With the win, PSV now has 68 points, while rival AZ has 67. PSV plays PEC Zwolle on Thursday and ends the season in a week against FC Utrecht. Should the team win both games, PSV will finish the season in second place.
