PSV must face stiff competition in the last seven games of the season in the battle for second place. In a match-wise recognizable topper, PSV lost 2-0 to AZ, which is next to Head Coach Roger Schmidt's team in points.
Quick deficit
Without the Olivier Boscagli, absent due to a muscle injury, PSV faced an early deficit. In Alkmaar, Karlsson opened the scoring after five minutes. The Swedish winger cut in from the flank without really being tackled and then beat Yvon MVogo in the short corner: 1-0. Soon after, Mario Götze had the equalizer on his shoe. Together with Eran Zahavi and Cody Gakpo, among others, the attacking midfielder put pressure on the AZ build-up, got the ball at his feet, but could not take advantage of the opportunity.
Many misses
Perhaps buoyed by that enforced error, PSV continued to play imperturbably according to Roger Schmidt's philosophy. The team regularly pinned the home side in their own half and tried to release creative people between the lines. When that failed, the team often found an outlet through the backs Philipp Max and Denzel Dumfries. It produced a number of great chances for the aforementioned Gakpo and Götze and even a goal that was disallowed for offside. On the stroke of halftime, Donyell Malen also appeared in front of goalkeeper Bizot, but each time the result was the same: no goal for PSV.
Same picture
The picture of that first half thus fit seamlessly into the picture of previous toppers this season. After the break, unfortunately, that did not change for PSV. Schmidt's team had the AZ attacking game under control, but was unable to create enough pressure. From one of the sparse Alkmaar breakaways, AZ took advantage. Koopmeiners was set free twenty minutes before time on the edge of the penalty area and shot hard: 2-0.
Broken
With that, PSV's resistance was broken. Even substitutes Noni Madueke and Yorbe Vertessen could do little against AZ's compact defense. After this weekend the Eredivisie still has seven rounds to go. The goal for PSV will be clear: hold on to second place.
