Every week Gracenote finds out all about the matches PSV plays. The away game against AZ is a direct duel for second place. PSV had often won against AZ in the past decade, but have had a tougher time of late.
Negative series
PSV lost the last three Eredivisie games against AZ. The only time that happened before was in the 1980s. Never before has AZ won four duels in a row from PSV. Only four clubs have done so: Ajax, Feyenoord, Fortuna Sittard and Go Ahead Eagles. Before the current run of three defeats, PSV won ten times in a row from AZ (2014-2018).
For PSV, a win would mean ending a run of 15 Eredivisie games without a win against AZ, Ajax or Feyenoord (0W-G6-V9). The last time PSV won against one of these clubs was in 2018. Then AZ was beaten 3-1. The last game with AZ ended in a 1-3 defeat. AZ scored twice in the first half, Philipp Max brought the tension back via a free kick until Calvin Stengs gave PSV the tie in the 90th minute.
Standings
PSV is currently in second place, three points above AZ, which is third. PSV's goal difference is also better (31 against 23), making it most likely to retain that spot in the event of defeat. PSV did score slightly less this season (59 against 61), but also gets fewer goals against (28 against 38).
Donyell Malen
Should Donyell Malen score, it will be his 50th league goal. In 96 games, the young striker scored 36 times in the Eredivisie and 13 times in the First Division. Malen scored 15 times in the league this season, making him PSV's top scorer. AZ is the only club besides FC Emmen and RKC Waalwijk that Malen has played against but failed to score.
Old acquaintances
Both PSV and AZ have players with a past with the opposition. Nick Viergever played 110 Eredivisie games for AZ between 2010 and 2014, scoring five times. AZ has two former PSV players with Albert Guðmundsson and Zakaria Aboukhlal. Guðmundsson played nine Eredivisie matches for PSV and Aboukhlal two games.