PSV will play the home match against FC Utrecht on Saturday night at 8:45 pm. A preview based on facts, figures and statistics.
Statistics in favor of PSV
Statistically, the numbers are well in PSV's favor. The last eighteen meetings at the Philips Stadium were all won by PSV. The last time Utrecht achieved a positive result was in the 1995-1996 season. It was 0-0 at the time. Last season it was 1-0 through a goal by Jürgen Locadia, just after halftime. In the current football season there was also a PSV-FC Utrecht match, either in the KNVB Cup. PSV won 2-0 in September through a goal by Jetro Willems and an own goal by Yannick Cortie. In Utrecht, PSV recorded an easy victory in the Eredivisie. After 25 minutes of play FC Utrecht was down to ten men due to a red card for Mark van der Maarel and PSV had already taken the score to 0-3. The final score was 1-5.
Earlier this season, PSV won convincingly 1-5 in Utrecht. Adam Maher opened the scoring at Stadion Galgenwaard | © Pics United
Spotless second half of season PSV
For PSV, after the winter break, things are going extremely well for the time being. Head coach Phillip Cocu's team won all four matches and is twelve points ahead of number two Ajax. PSV won consecutively against Vitesse (0-1), SC Cambuur (1-2), Willem II (2-1) and NAC Breda (0-2). Should FC Utrecht also be defeated, it will be the ninth consecutive win in the Eredivisie, the nineteenth win in total and the eleventh victory at Philips Stadium.
Utrecht is missing at least Anouar Kali, who hit teammate Kristoffer Peterson with a broken jaw at training | © Pics United
FC Utrecht experiences changeable season
Opponent FC Utrecht is experiencing an uneven season. In Stadion Galgenwaard only three victories were recorded and Robby Alflen's team has been defeated six times. A total of fourteen points were taken. Feyenoord, FC Dordrecht, NAC Breda and AZ were beaten; Excelsior and FC Groningen shared the points. FC Utrecht did not win a single game after the winter break and is now in twelfth place. Utrecht is missing Anouar Kali, who hit teammate Kristoffer Peterson with a broken jaw during training. At first, Kali was only fined for this scuffle, but later the club management suspended him for three matches. The away game against Willem II (1-0) was the first he had to watch from the stands. Also missing is striker Ruud Boymans, the dangerous striker - who managed to score against PSV in Utrecht - injured his ankle. The same goes for Van der Maarel, who had a starring role in Utrecht with his early red card. Like Boymans, he is struggling with an ankle injury.