With the 4-2 victory over Sparta Rotterdam, it is finally official: PSV is national champion 2023-2024! Every victory, every point is worth as much in basic terms. Yet this season there were some games that were just a little more important.
The comeback
Match: PSV - Ajax
Round of play: 10
Date: Oct. 29, 2023
Result: 5-2 victory
In the tenth round of play in the Eredivisie, PSV took on a battered Ajax, which at the time had only five points from seven rounds of play. PSV had just won all of its nine matches, but had yet to encounter a traditional top team. Nevertheless, expectations were high for Head Coach Peter Bosz.
Nothing came of that in the first half. The PSV that had won everything so far stood lost on the pitch, when Brian Brobbey and Branco van den Boomen shot Ajax into halftime with a 2-1 lead. It could have been a lot worse, too, had the Amsterdammers been sharper in their finishing(video).
At halftime, Bosz came not with a thunderous speech, but with a tactical change. PSV started putting pressure from a 4-4-2 formation and shot ball after ball into it. Especially Hirving Lozano was on target with a hat trick. PSV claimed the perfect score of thirty points after ten games.
the test
Match: Feyenoord - PSV
Round: 14
Date: December 3 2023
Result: 2-1 win
A few days after the iconic remontada in Seville, PSV visited title rival Feyenoord. With a seven-point lead, PSV was already firmly in the saddle. That could very well be over if they lost at De Kuip.
Head coach Peter Bosz surprised by drafting Jerdy Schouten as a center defender. The coach hopes the summer acquisition will make it easier to get around Feyenoord's pressure. However, the match begins anything but promising when Jordan Teze drops out with a head injury after only a few minutes.
In the second half, Malik Tillman is posted as a flanker for the first time, where the American proves his worth right away. In the 65th minute, he snatches the ball from Lutsharel Geertruida before reaching Johan Bakayoko. The young Belgian sensitively lobs the ball into the feet of Ismael Saibari, who opens the scoring(video).
PSV stormed on as Luuk de Jong almost scored with an overhead kick immediately after. His effort is turned into a corner, but the danger does not appear to be over. The standard situation is headed in by Olivier Boscagliwho scores his first of the season. Feyenoord did score the tying goal, but could not prevent PSV from extending their lead to ten points for the first time in 2023-2024.
The sovereign
Match: AZ - PSV
Round: 16
Date: December 17 2023
Result: 4-0 victory
In mid-November, PSV has a leaden schedule ahead. Matches against FC Twente, Sevilla FC, Feyenoord, sc Heerenveen and Arsenal follow each other in rapid succession. Nevertheless, apart from a draw against the Premier League leaders, they win everything. On December 17, PSV travels to Alkmaar for the last league match before the winter break.
Beforehand, Head Coach Peter Bosz admits that the record of best league start ever is beginning to live within the group. That record never appears to be in jeopardy in North Holland. Within seventeen minutes, PSV is leading 3-0. PSV reigns and dominates in a normally always tricky away game(video).
That PSV is playing scintillating also knows Luuk de Jong: "I haven't experienced this football before at PSV," the captain said afterwards. With two goals and an assist, he continues his great form. PSV ends 2023 with no fewer than 103 league goals.
The Hero
Match: PSV - FC Twente
Round: 26
Date: March 17, 2024
Result: 1-0 victory
When PSV deflected a direct attack from Feyenoord in early March (2-2), PSV seemed irreversibly on their way to their 25th national championship - until FC Twente visited. The number three of the Eredivisie has come to Eindhoven for a result. The words of Peter Bosz, that: 'any game can be a banana skin' seems to take shape March 17.
After a scoreless first half, where PSV failed to make good final passes, the main force escaped a deficit in the 47th minute. Myron Boadu did head the ball past Walter Benítez, but according to the arbitration committed a foul by jumping against the PSV goalie (video).
PSV then got plenty of chances for the opening goal, but when FC Twente attacker Mitchell van Bergen went off alone on goal in the 92nd minute, the unbeaten status seemed to come to an end. It is thanks to Walter Benítez that the liberating goal from Ricardo Pepi five minutes later provides the full
spoils.
The decision
Match: sc Heerenveen - PSV
Round: 31
Date: April 25, 2024
Result: 8-0 victory
A good result in Heervenveen means PSV are unofficial national champions. Winning in the Abe Lenstra Stadium, however, has been a tough task for years. Indeed; the victory a season earlier, was the first three point win in ten years. Add to that the championship pressure and you have the recipe for a difficult match - it turned out to be anything but that.
Three goals in the first ten minutes rob the Frisians of any illusion. PSV gives a true football show and treats the traveling supporters to the biggest away win in the club's history: 8-0. After the final whistle a big party erupts.
Goals are scored by Guus Til (7', 30'), Malik Tillman, (9', 11'), Joey Veerman (44'), Johan Bakayoko (52'), Luuk de Jong (71') & Patrick van Aanholt (83').
PSV had a huge preponderance in passes, ball possession, shots and picked up no cards. Head coach Peter Bosz labeled it the best match of the season afterwards. The national championship was not yet official, but the decision had been made(video).