PSV Eindhoven vs. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AFC-Ajax-c38228 Amsterdam: Mertens and Sigthorsson to shine – Dutch Eredivisie preview
It will be an intriguing encounter between PSV Eindhoven and Ajax Amsterdam. The two Eredivisie giants will lock horns at Philips Stadion on Sunday, September 18.
PSV Eindhoven
Apart from the defeat against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AZ-c38571 Alkmaar in the opening game of the 2011/12 campaign, the Boeren have played impressively in the domestic competition. They have an overall record of 5 played, 3 won, 1 lost and 1 drawn.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fred-c14136 Rutten, PSV head coach, has expressed optimism and believes that his side has what it takes to beat the Dutch champions.
“In the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Netherlands-c753, this is a classic game. We enjoy home advantage and believe in our own strength and we don't mind being labelled as favourites. We can make the next step forward. Our aim is to get all three points and we’ll do our utmost to win this
match”, Rutten was quoted as saying to the media.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/PSV-c40281 are currently placed fifth in the league table. They are trailing the league leaders, Ajax, by a mere three points. The Dutch trainer would be hoping that his troops stage a commanding performance and bag maximum points against their bitter rivals.
Ajax Amsterdam
De Joden have started their title defence impressively as they are yet to taste a defeat in Eredivisie. The Amsterdammers have an overall record of 5 played, 4 won and 1 drawn.
Ajax snatched the top spot in the league table from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roda-JC-c40375 Kerkrade.
Frank de Boer, Ajax manager, has clearly expressed that the Eindhoven giants have a wonderful squad full of match winners, and believes that they are serious contenders for the league title.
“They have spent wonderfully. They have attracted http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dries-Mertens-c11679, amongst others. He was decisive against Legia Warsaw yesterday. They have many good players and as a team they are still growing. They have a good team and are candidates for the title”, De
Boer said while talking to the Dutch media.
The Dutch trainer would be hoping that his side manages to stun the hosts in this crunch encounter and stretch their lead atop the league table.
Head-to-Head statistics
PSV have managed to emerge victorious in two of their last five encounters against Ajax. Two matches ended in stalemates while the Amsterdammers bagged all three points in the remaining match.
Players to watch
Dries Mertens – PSV Eindhoven
The Belgian winger performed exceptionally last term at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Utrecht-c39237 and his impressive form has not dropped a bit following his move to Eindhoven this summer.
The 24-year-old has scored seven goals in five league appearances and will be looking to add more to his tally in this encounter. It will be hard for the Ajax defence to tie him down and restrict Mertens from hitting the back of the net.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson – Ajax Amsterdam
In absence of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Miralem-Sulejmani-c25985, the Icelandic ace will certainly need to put up an impressive show upfront. The youngster has scored four goals in five league appearances and will certainly look to better his record in this crunch game.
Prediction
It will certainly be a cracker of a game between the two Dutch giants, making the score-line hard to predict. Both sides have shown their aggressive mentality on the pitch – a goal-galore is expected.
The match will end in a 3-3 stalemate with both sides sharing a point each.
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