Defending KNVB Beker champions PSV Eindhoven will face off against ADO Den Haag at the Philips Stadion on Thursday evening in the third of four quarter-final ties this week.
Ruud van Nistelrooy's side are aiming to lift their first back-to-back successes since 1988-89 and 1989-90, while The Hague seek a third triumph in the most illustrious knockout tournament in Dutch football.
Match preview
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PSV Eindhoven qualified for the last eight with a 3-1 victory win over Emmen, down partly to Everton loanee Jarrad Branthwaite bagging a brace within the opening quarter-hour at Philips Stadion.
Only reigning 2021-22 Eredivisie champions Ajax and current league leaders Feyenoord have registered more overall victories in the history of the 125-year competition than Van Nistelrooy's side's 10 KNVB Beker triumphs.
Situated six points adrift of current Eredivisie leaders Feyenoord, with everything still to play for between now and the conclusion of the 2022-23 league season, PSV are even closer to their minimum requirement of qualifying for their customary seasonal European commitments.
No longer involved in the UEFA Europa League after being knocked out last Thursday by La Liga outfit Sevilla, the hosts will have no excuses if they fail to qualify, for at least the Conference League, with their sole concentration now back on domestic footballing matters.
Unbeaten in five Eredivisie matches, including a 3-1 victory over fellow European qualification contenders Twente on Sunday, Van Nistelrooy's side look good value to surprisingly make only their second appearance in a KNVB Beker semi-final in the last 10 years.
Considering PSV have also registered five victories in the previous six head-to-head encounters against their lower-league opposition, Rood-witten will be quietly confident of further extending their one-sided historical bragging rights.
Den Haag set up Thursday evening's encounter under the lights of the Philips Stadion following a 1-0 victory over Eredivisie side Go Ahead Eagles on February 9.
Managed by legendary Dutch manager and former player Dick Advocaat, The Hague will hope to bring their league form into the contest after putting together an unbeaten nine-match sequence in the Eerste Divisie.
Den Haag were held to a goalless draw by Den Bosch in the second division of the country's footballing sphere on Sunday, despite limiting their underwhelming hosts to having no shots on target throughout a frustrating 90 minutes at De Vliert.
A share of the spoils left Advocaat's side a staggering 19 points behind second-placed Heracles Almelo, with The Hague now realistically left to set their sights on finishing in the Eredivisie relegation playoffs, which they are currently four points adrift of.
Team News
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After witnessing his side's 3-1 victory over fellow European qualification candidates Twente, PSV Eindhoven manager Ruud van Nistelrooy could name the same starting XI for the visit of Den Haag to Philips Stadion.
Following on from showcasing his credentials at the opposite end of the field in the last round of the KNVB Beker, on-loan Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is expected to begin Thursday evening's contest in a familiar-looking back four alongside Phillipp Mwene, Andre Ramalho and Mauro Junior.
Speaking of another player that has been borrowed from the Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Fabio Silva will again lead the Rood-witten line, with Johan Bakayoko and Luuk de Jong beginning either side of the in-form striker.
Den Haag head coach Dick Advocaat will unlikely want to make any changes to his starting 11 despite being held to a draw by Den Bosch, considering The Hague were arguably the better side throughout large spells of the match.
Despite failing to find their goalscoring boots in front of goal on Sunday, Xander Severina, Joey Sleegers and Ricardo Kishna will begin the match in an attack-minded midfield trio behind lone striker Thomas Verheydt.
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Mwene, Ramalho, Branthwaite, Junior; Simons, Veerman, Sangare; Bakayoko, De Jong, Silva
ADO Den Haag possible starting lineup:
Stevens; Rodriguez, Asante, Van Breemen, Absalem; Esajas, Thomas; Severina, Kishna, Sleegers; Verheydt
We say: PSV Eindhoven 3-1 ADO Den Haag
With Den Haag failing to register a victory over PSV Eindhoven since February 2011, which incidentally came at the Philips Stadion, we predict that the defending KNVB Beker champions will continue their recent unrivalled head-to-head record on Thursday evening and subsequently confirm their place in the semi-finals.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
