PSV Eindhoven vs ADO Den Haag – 02/03/2023
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Eerste Divisie club, ADO Den Haag, are aiming to knock the reigning KNVB Cup holders out of this season’s tournament on Thursday night. Den Haag will travel to the Philipps Stadion to face off with Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven in a quarterfinal clash.
Ruud van Nistelrooy saw the PSV board sell several of his top players in January. Van Nistelrooy has steadied the ship despite the departures of Cody Gakpo and Noni Madueke.
Since the end of last season when PSV Eindhoven won the KNVB Cup, the club sold four important attacking players including Gakpo, Madueke, Mario Gotze, and Ritsu Doan. The team made just under €90 million from the sales of those four players.
Eindhoven are still in the Eredivisie title race. However, the KNVB Cup may be their best chance at a piece of silverware at the end of the campaign. PSV are unbeaten in five straight league matches ahead of the arrival of ADO Den Haag.
Van Nistelrooy’s team has a record of 10 wins, one draw, and one loss at home this season in the league. The manager will hope the team can translate that home form over to the KNVB Cup.
ADO Den Haag are a midtable Eerste Divisie club. The team is in no danger of relegation this season nor are they fighting for a promotion playoff place. Den Haag are in good form and unbeaten in six straight matches.
Dick Advocaat joined Den Haag as manager in November. His leadership has turned around the team’s poor early-season form. Den Haag are led in goals by Thomas Verheyt with seven goals in the Eerste Divisie.
Verheyt will likely start through the middle as the team’s No 9. Advocaat has used a 4-2-3-1 formation this season. The team is coming off a nil-nil draw with Den Bosch.
PSV attacking midfielder Xavi Simons has risen to the forefront in the absence of Gakpo. Simons leads the team in goals with 11 this season and has six assists in the Eredivisie. Simons plays as the No 10 behind the team’s central striker in an attacking 4-3-3 formation.
Eindhoven defeated FC Twente 3-1 last weekend in the Eredivisie. Van Nistelrooy is unlikely to have the likes of Thorgan Hazard, Anwar El Ghazi, Savio, or Walter Benitez available due to injuries.
PSV Eindhoven have a superior amount of quality and should advance to the quarterfinals of the KNVB Cup with a win at full-time. The Lightbulbs should ease to a 3-0 win.
