KNVB Beker champions PSV Eindhoven return to Eredivisie action this Saturday, when they travel to Het Kasteel to face Sparta Rotterdam.

On top of their cup success, PSV are now also favourites to join Feyenoord as the Dutch representatives in next season's Champions League.

Match preview

With Feyenoord soon to be crowned Eredivisie champions, the battle between PSV and Ajax for the final Champions League spot rages on.

PSV are coming into this off the back of the week of their dreams after beating Ajax back-to-back in the league and then in the cup final last weekend.

Their 3-0 win over their rivals in the Eredivisie two weeks ago moved them three points clear of Ajax in second place - the final place which guarantees Champions League qualification.

With spirits already high following such a convincing victory, PSV followed it up by beating Ajax again in a De Topper KNVB Beker final on penalties last weekend.

That success continues PSV's fabulous late-season form which has seen them win 11 of their last 12 games.

It was important that Ruud van Nistelrooy's side started winning on the road to challenge the top two spots too, and they have done, taking 10 points from their last four games away from Eindhoven, after claiming just 15 points in their first 11 away matches of the season.

The race for the Champions League could go right down to the wire though, as both PSV and Ajax have tricky run-ins to finish the season.

Sparta represent PSV's first big challenge, as they have been the Eredivisie's overachievers this season.

Maurice Steijn's men currently lie in fifth, a huge improvement on last season's 14th-placed finish which only saw them narrowly escape relegation.

They are comfortably assured of a spot in the Eredivisie's Europa Conference League playoffs, thanks to a remarkable run of form recently which has seen them take 16 points from a possible 21, with only league-leaders Feyenoord beating them in that time.

Sparta have scored 18 goals in those seven games, but the standout result was a narrow 1-0 win away to AZ Alkmaar.

AZ are currently in fourth - a spot which would guarantee a Europa Conference League spot - but a miraculous finish to the season would be required for Sparta to catch them.

Sparta are seven points behind, but AZ still have to face Ajax and PSV as well as still having the distraction of a European semi-final to come, so it is not totally unfathomable just yet, especially given the form of the Rotterdam outfit.

Team News

Shurandy Sambo is suspended for Sparta after he was sent off shortly after scoring their equaliser in a 3-3 draw with Twente last weekend.

Steijn has two injury worries ahead of this clash, with Rick Meissen and Bart Vriends unlikely to feature.

A booking for PSV's Ibrahim Sangare in their 3-0 win over Ajax means the Ivorian will miss this game through suspension.

Defensive duo Mauro Junior and Armando Obispo are both doubtful as they make steady comebacks from lengthy layoffs.

Cup goalkeeper Joel Drommel played in the final against Ajax last week, but Walter Benitez should come back in to replace him.

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Van Mullem, Abels, Eerdhuijzen, Pinto; Verschueren, Namli, Kitolano; V van Crooij, Lauritsen, Saito

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Teze, Ramalho, Branthwaite, Van Aanholt; Bakayoko, Veerman, Sangare, Til, Simons; De Jong

We say: Sparta Rotterdam 1-3 PSV Eindhoven

Sparta's only remaining objective will be to try to chase down AZ in fourth, but they would likely need to win all of their remaining games to even have a chance, and PSV are a frightening prospect to face right now.

With the confidence running through the side following two massive victories over Ajax, PSV are expected to keep their excellent late-season form going here.


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