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

PSV Eindhoven will be aiming to keep the pressure on Eredivisie leaders Ajax when they host struggling VVV-Venlo on Tuesday.

The second-placed Boeren are currently three points behind the Amsterdam giants, while VVV are just a point and a place above the bottom three.

Match preview

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PSV thrashed RKC Waalwijk 4-1 on Saturday evening, with goals coming from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Ihattaren, Denzel Dumfries and Noni Madueke.

It continued their excellent start to the season under Roger Schmidt, as they have now won nine, drawn three and lost just one of their opening 13 Eredivisie games.

They have a perfect home record, winning all six of their matches at the Philips Stadion, scoring 14 times and only conceding twice.

While PSV have scored in every league game, they have kept only one clean sheet in their last five fixtures, which may give VVV-Venlo the tiniest slice of hope. Despite their lowly position, Hans de Koning's side are in the top half for goals scored and have netted nine times in their last six matches.

Georgios Giakoumakis is the team's main goal threat and has scored 10 times in 13 games – only Danilo of FC Twente has been more prolific.

It is at the other end where the problem lies for VVV, as they have conceded the most goals in the Eredivisie (38), are yet to keep a clean sheet and famously lost 13-0 to Ajax in October.

VVV have lost their last three games, most recently at home to Twente, who beat them 2-1 on Saturday.

Their only away win this season came against bottom of the table side FC Emmen, and that was all the way back on the opening day of the campaign.

The 1-1 draw between PSV and VVV-Venlo last season was the first point that VVV had earned against the Boeren since 2011, while they have not beaten the Eindhoven outfit in their last 35 attempts since winning 2-0 in 1976.

PSV Eindhoven Eredivisie form: DWDWWW PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions): WWDWWW

VVV-Venlo Eredivisie form: WLDLLL VVV-Venlo form (all competitions): LDLLWL

Team News

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PSV have named the same starting 11 in their last three games, and are unlikely to deter from that as they aim to continue their good form.

The likes of Noni Madueke and Joel Piroe will have to make do with a place on the bench despite having good impacts as substitutes in recent games.

Ryan Thomas, Armando Obispo and Erick Gutierrez are all edging closer to a first team return after respective injuries.

Zinedine Machach may come in for his first VVV-Venlo start in the Eredivisie since the end of October after featuring as a substitute in recent games. Hans de Koning will still be without the injured Arjan Swinkels and Simon Janssen for the trip to the Philips Stadion.

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

VVV-Venlo possible starting lineup: Kirschbaum; Pachonik, Kum, Schafer, Schmitz; Linthorst, Post, Machach; van Crooij; Arias, Giakoumakis

We say: PSV Eindhoven 4-0 VVV-Venlo

There is surely only one outcome in this game and that is a PSV win. Schmidt's side are in great form and are unstoppable at home, so the chances of a poor VVV-Venlo team getting a result here seem slim. The visitors just need to make sure that the result does not get embarrassing.

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