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

PSV Eindhoven welcome FC Twente to the Philips Stadion on Saturday, aiming to close the gap on league leaders Ajax, who are not in action until Sunday.

This is the second meeting between the sides this season, following a 1-1 draw in November at the Grolsch Veste Stadium.

Match preview

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PSV were unable to record a fourth consecutive league victory as they were defeated 3-1 by Feyenoord on Sunday, in a game that was already over for them at half time.

Courtesy of goals from Mark Diemers, Steven Berghuis and Bryan Linssen, Feyenoord raced to a three-goal advantage and never looked like relinquishing it, although Ibrahim Sangare managed to pull one back for his side.

That defeat puts Saturday's hosts seven points adrift of Ajax in the Eredivisie table, and with the teams set to meet later in the month, The Rood-witten must stay in touch heading into that game.

PSV have been near-perfect at home this season, winning eight of their nine league games with the exception of a 3-1 loss to AZ Alkmaar in mid-January.

For Twente, it is now five league games without a win after they played out a second consecutive 0-0 draw in the space of three days, against Heerenveen on Sunday this time.

Ron Jans's men have struggled massively in front of goal over the course of their last three games, failing to score in each of them.

Next up for them is a PSV side that has conceded the second-fewest number of goals at home, so The Tukkers clearly have their work cut out for them.

However, Twente have not lost a game against Roger Schmidt's men in the last three years with all three meetings between the sides in that time ending in stalemates, including their aforementioned draw earlier in the season.

That should serve as a source of motivation for a side that will need a lot of it if they are to challenge for a European spot in the final knockings of the season.

PSV Eindhoven Eredivisie form: DLWWWL PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions): LWWWWL

FC Twente Eredivisie form: WLDLDD

Team News

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Mario Gotze is unavailable for the home side, as he continues his recovery from a muscle injury that has kept him out of action since December.

Richard Ledezma and Maximiliano Romero have both had their seasons ended prematurely, picking up ACL and knee injuries respectively.

PSV's Mauro Junior has been given more opportunities in the first team this season, since returning from last season's loan spell at Heracles.

In Twente's loss to Ajax earlier in the month where he played just eight minutes, Vaclav Cerny sustained a season-ending knee injury.

Jayden Oosterwolde was also forced off at Groningen after pulling his hamstring, which will keep him out of action for about a month.

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup: Mvogo; Max, Boscagli, Teze, Dumfries; Rosario, Sangare, Thomas; Ihattaren, Malen, Zahavi

FC Twente possible starting lineup: Drommel; Dumic, Pierie, Pleguezuelo, Smal; Zerrouki, Roemeratoe, Ilic; Menig, Danilo, Van Leeuwen

We say: PSV Eindhoven 3-1 FC Twente

PSV will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat last time out and given the form of the side they will be going up against, they should be able to manage that in a relatively comfortable manner.