Last season, PSV won the first nine games after the winter break. Can that series be matched this year? To start that series, PSV must at least win tonight against Excelsior. A preview in facts and trivia.
Three goals and six assists for former PSV player
Against Excelsior, PSV should keep a close eye on an old acquaintance. Former youth player Nigel Hasselbaink has been the Rotterdammers' most valuable player this season. He scored three goals, all from penalties, and provided six assists.
That he can hurt Cocu's team is well known by now. For a long time last season, PSV seemed headed for a 1-0 victory because of a goal by Davy Pröpper in the 62nd minute. Until Hasselbaink tapped in the equalizer in injury time and left the Philips Stadium defeated.
39 previous meetings
It is one of the few times Excelsior took points with them from Eindhoven, as PSV won 15 of the 19 home matches. Three times the game ended in a draw and once the Rotterdammers won, in 1971. Including away games, PSV and Excelsior played against each other 39 times. PSV won 31 of them (5 draws and 3 losses).
One of those games was earlier this season, when PSV recorded a 3-1 victory at Woudestein. The goals came from Luciano Narsingh, Luuk de Jong and Davy Pröpper, while Luigi Bruins scored a penalty for Excelsior.
