PSV have two more games left to finish the season as true new National Champions. Opponent ADO Den Haag are still fighting to reach the play offs. But what would stimulate PSV’s players to give everything two more times?
Eindhoven has partied hard and saw their club draw against Roda JC in Kerkrade, the match after celebration week. Nobody cried, except the ones who saw a new possible record get lost that day. This PSV could have become the team with the most points in one season, but the partying probably took its toll on the pitch this time.
Other possible records
The first thing PSV should do is improve their goal difference. It’s hard to set any record with it still, but it would look a lot better if they finish first with the most scored goals, and not Ajax. Luckily Hirving Lozano is still in the race to become top scorer of the Eredivisie, it wouldn’t surprise anybody if he’s the kind of guy to take that serious. The current number 1 is winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh of AZ, who scored 18 goals so far. Chucky scored 16, just like strikers Wout Weghorst of AZ and Fran Sol of Willem II.
Marco van Ginkel can sharpen his record of most scored penalties in a season, a record he already broke a couple of weeks ago. Ronald Koeman had scored 7 penalties for PSV in the season of 1987/88, right now Van Ginkel scored 100% of 10 penalties already. With a total of 14 goals and 4 assists, he surely can become the most productive midfielder of the Eredivisie this season. Not bad for someone who had to move a line down after the horrible start of PSV’s season, in order to create a stronger defensive midfield.
PSV also has the record holder of ‘youngest maker of a hattrick’ (Zakaria Bakkali, 17 year and 196 days, 2013/14) and the record of the ‘fastest red card’ (Jetro Willems after 29 seconds against NAC in Breda in 2014/2015). Breaking the first record is optional, but not very likely. Breaking the second is always optional, but not the kind you want to consider. All in all it’s the kind of positive records the new national champions need to focus on if they want to stay sharp during the last two games.
Next opponent: ADO Den Haag
As mentioned before, ADO are still in the run to reach play offs for European football. The last years have been quite dramatic, managerially speaking. Wang Hui, the Chinese business man that bought the club in 2014, created a lot of unrest in Den Haag. However, this year has been a little better and the club are finally able to look up on the ranking again. With new head coach Alfons Groenendijk, ADO chose a former player of the club and an experienced trainer, even though not on the highest levels.
Statistics
Throughout history, PSV played 99 matches against the team from the court capitol. PSV won 59 and lost 16 of them, scored 234 and conceded 103 times. The biggest triumph in a home game for PSV dates back to January of 1988, when they beat ADO with 1-9. The biggest victory in an away game took place in November 2012, when they took the 3 points home to Eindhoven after a 1-6 win over the Hagenezen. ADO’s biggest home victories were marked in the seasons of 1990-91 and 1972-73, when on both occasions they sent PSV home with 0 points after a 3-0 beating.
PSV couldn’t win its last 2 away games in Den Haag. ADO won 3 of its 5 last home games in the Eredivisie, scoring 5 and conceding 7 goals in total. They are the current number 9 on the ranking, with 1 point less than PEC Zwolle and 3 more than Excelsior Rotterdam. For them, all that counts is winning, because dropping any points means they won’t join the play offs for European Football. This means they have to attack, and PSV likes that. This way Phillip Cocu’s team can focus on the counter attacks and that most likely sound like music to Steven Bergwijn and Hirving Lozano’s ears.
Watch the resume of PSV’s home match against ADO Den Haag right here.
Injuries & Suspensions
Maximiliano Romero is still injured and will have to focus on the next season. The same goes for Pascal Lundqvist. Luuk de Jong is still slightly injured and will not start tomorrow. Other than that, Cocu has a completely fit selection to his availability.
Match Information
Match: ADO Den Haag – PSV
Date: Sunday 29 April 2018
Time: 14:30
Location: Cars Jeans Stadion, Den Haag
Referee: Pol van Boekel
Broadcast: Fox Sports Eredivisie
Tickets: Only tickets left at ADO stands. No club card needed! Click here
For Eindhoven News: Joey van der Hart
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