Preview: Groningen vs. PSV Eindhoven - prediction, team news, lineups

Groningen will be looking to end a run of four consecutive league defeats when they welcome PSV Eindhoven to the Euroborg Stadion on Sunday.

The visitors, meanwhile, currently sit second in the Eredivisie and are fresh off the back of a defeat to Arsenal in the Europa League.

Match preview

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Groningen suffered their fourth straight league defeat last time out against FC Twente, courtesy of goals from Virgil Misidjan, Joshua Brenet and Ricky van Wolfswinkel in the second half.

That result leaves Frank Wormuth's side in the relegation playoff place, level on points with Vitesse and Cambuur and two points clear of FC Emmen in the drop zone.

However, Groningen did claim a 3-0 triumph in midweek over Dordrecht in the KNVB Cup, ensuring they did not go five matches in all competitions without a victory.

A brace from Neraysho Kasanwirjo put Wormuth's side two goals to the good before Ricardo Pepi scored his fifth goal in six games for the Dutch outfit to cap off a resounding win.

They are now tasked with stopping a prolific PSV Eindhoven side who have netted 35 goals in their opening 10 league fixtures.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is enjoying a bright start to his first season as PSV coach.

The club remain one point behind perennial champions Ajax in the Eredivisie, and the defeat to Arsenal on Thursday night in the Europa League stopped them winning five games on the spin in all competitions.

However, a positive result in the reverse fixture against Mikel Arteta's men should see them advance into February's playoffs.

Since their shock 3-0 defeat to Cambuur at the start of October, PSV have responded accordingly, scoring 17 times across the five games that have followed. Unfortunately for Van Nistelrooy, that scoring prowess evaded them against the Gunners as they had no response to Granit Xhaka's 70th-minute strike.

With the reverse fixture against Arsenal looming on Thursday, Van Nistelrooy will be looking for his team to put in a dominant display against a Groningen side flirting with the relegation places.

A victory here would also make it three league wins on the trot for PSV Eindhoven.

Team News

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Radinio Balker returned from suspension for the hosts last time out against Dordrecht, so he could retain his place in defence here.

Liam van Gelderen will miss out due to a hamstring problem, while Jan Hoekstra will remain sidelined due to a shoulder injury.

Ricardo Pepi has scored five goals in his last six appearances, and the forward will be aiming to get on the scoresheet once more.

Meanwhile, PSV welcomed back Noni Madueke, Luuk de Jong, and Mauro Junior to the squad against Arsenal, and it seems likely they will all be involved once again at the weekend.

Cody Gakpo is the name on the lips of some of Europe's biggest clubs at the moment, as the Dutch winger currently has 13 goals and 11 assists to his name in all competitions so far this season.

Guus Til will also look to lead the line once again on Sunday, after bagging a brace last weekend against FC Utrecht.

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Leeuwenburgh; Kasanwirjo, Te Wierik, Balker, Dybvik; Suslov, Pelupessy, Kruger, Duarte, Abraham; Pepi

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Mwene, Ramalho, Obispo, Max; Sangare, Gutierrez; Simons, Veerman, Gakpo; Til

We say: Groningen 0-3 PSV Eindhoven

Despite Groningen claiming a victory in the KNVB Cup last time out, they remain an inconsistent outfit, and we think they will have trouble stopping this free-scoring PSV Eindhoven side.

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