Gameweek four in the Eredivisie will wrap up with defending league champions PSV Eindhoven taking on Go Ahead Eagles at the Philips Stadion on Sunday evening.
The hosts have made a perfect start to the season, taking the maximum nine points from their first three games, while the visitors have managed three points over the same period.
Match preview
While it is still much too premature to suggest that PSV are going to go on to win the Eredivisie again this season, early signs suggest that it is going to take something special from the rest of the sides in the league to stop them.
The Farmers smashed several records en route to lifting the title last season, losing only one league match across the campaign, and they arguably look even better at the start of this term.
After just three games, Peter Bosz's side have already racked up an incredible 13 goals, smashing in five on opening weekend, three against Heracles on matchday two and seven last weekend away to Almere City.
Against De Zwarte Schapen, the league champions got six different players on the scoresheet, with the seventh goal coming by way of an own-goal from Theo Barbet 12 minutes before the final whistle.
PSV now return to Philips Stadion this weekend, where they are currently unbeaten in 28 league matches, including 25 wins and three draws, a record which dates back to January 2023.
Meanwhile, Go Ahead Eagles continued their season-on-season progress last term, securing a top-half spot after finishing 11th in 2022-23 and 13th in their first season back in the top flight.
The pride of the IJssel made a poor start to the new season, though, as they missed out on qualifying for the Conference League, beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Norwegian outfit Brann at the start of the month.
Following that disappointment, new boss Paul Simonis suffered defeats in his first two league matches in charge against Fortuna Sittard and newly promoted Willem II, but notched up his first competitive victory last weekend, overcoming RKC Waalwijk 2-0 at home.
Unfortunately for Simonis, history suggests that he will find it very tough to follow up on that result here, as his side have lost each of their last eight encounters against their upcoming opponents and were outscored 19-4 in that time.
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Team News
PSV are likely to be without as many as six players for this match due to injury, starting with long-term absentee Sergino Dest, who is only expected to return next year having undergone surgery to his knee.
Mauro Junior and Armando Obispo have not featured at all this season due to a hamstring and knee injury respectively, while Ismael Saibari, Johan Bakayoko and Jerdy Schouten are doubts owing to knocks.
Go Ahead Eagles will have to make do without two of their first-team players due to injuries in the form of left-winger Oliver Valaker Edvardsen (foot) and centre-back Julius Dirksen (knee).
Bobby Adekanya and Finn Stokkers both got on the scoresheet last week and should continue to lead the line, while Soren Tengstedt and Jakob Breum will provide the attacking support from midfield.
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Ledezma, Flamingo; Boscagli, Oppegard; Til, Veerman, Tilman; Lang, De Jong, Lozano
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
Plogmann; Deijl, Kramer, Nauber, James; Llansana, Twigt, Adekanye, Tengstedt, Breum; Stokkers
We say: PSV Eindhoven 3-0 Go Ahead Eagles
With PSV scoring 13 goals in their first three games of the season, it is difficult to make much of a case for Go Ahead Eagles to find a victory in this match. The hosts are unbeaten in 28 matches at Philips Stadion, and we feel they will extend that record further with another comfortable victory in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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