The Eredivisie continues this weekend with Fortuna Sittard hosting title-chasing PSV Eindhoven at Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Sunday afternoon.
The two sides have endured differing starts to league action again following the World Cup break, with Sittard yet to win whereas PSV are unbeaten since returning from the month-long hiatus.
Match preview
© Reuters
After being eliminated by NEC Nijmegen in the first round of the KNVB-Beker in October, Fortuna Sittard had the midweek off to dwell on a disappointing result against Go Ahead Eagles in their first Eredivisie fixture since November.
Goals from Bas Kuipers and Bobby Adekanye condemned Julio Velazquez's men to a 2-0 defeat on home soil, a loss which kept them within striking distance of those occupying relegation places.
Sitting 13th in the Eredivisie standings after collecting 15 points from as many matches, Fortuna look set to finish in their usual lowly position in the table, with the club ending up 15th or 16th in three of the last four campaigns.
Fortuna have been marginally worse at home so far this season, and the visit of PSV does not bode well for a side who possess one of the leakiest defences in the division.
PSV managed to advance to the third round of the KNVB-Beker in the week after a 2-1 away success against Sparta Rotterdam, a result which preserves their unbeaten record since returning from the World Cup break.
Admittedly, Ruud van Nistelrooy's men have only played twice in that time - with both against the aforementioned Rotterdam - although it is that type of unbeaten record which will allow PSV to keep pace with Feyenoord and Ajax at the top of the Eredivisie table.
With Cody Gakpo now departed to Liverpool in the Premier League, more of the attacking burden will fall onto the young shoulders of Xavi Simons, with the 19-year-old showing his undoubted potential since making the switch from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
PSV's frailties have been shown mainly on the road this campaign, with the Boeren losing three of their seven Eredivisie matches away from Philips Stadion - a record not often associated with title candidates.
Team News
Fortuna are expected to be without midfielder Arianit Ferati for the visit of PSV, with the 25-year-old having not featured for the club since the 3-2 success over FC Groningen in November.
Another long-term absentee for Fortuna is Dimitris Siovas, who has not played since the 3-1 loss at Sparta Rotterdam in October, an absence which reduces Velazquez's defensive options.
PSV winger Savio will be unavailable for selection this weekend due to personal reasons, although it was unlikely he was going to start ahead of Anwar El-Ghazi or the highly-rated Noni Madueke.
Olivier Boscagli will play no part in the action at Fortuna on Sunday - the defender has not featured since a serious knee injury in April.
Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Pinto, Navarro, Guth, Cox; Embalo, Erdogan, Ozyakup, Cordoba; Yilmaz, Gladon
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Teze, Branthwaite, Obispo, Max; Simons, Sangare, Veerman; El Ghazi, De Jong, Madueke
We say: Fortuna Sittard 0-3 PSV Eindhoven
Fortuna will be desperate to bounce back after a poor defeat against Go Ahead Eagles, but an assignment against PSV is certainly not the easiest way to get back on track.
PSV need to string together an extensive run of victories in order to keep their title dreams alive, and a trip to Fortuna presents a good opportunity to collect all three points quite convincingly.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
