Our prediction for this KNVB Cup match:
PSV
Match Time & Date:
14/01/2025
21:00
Prediction: 4-0
Excelsior
Philips Stadion will host a David-vs-Goliath KNVB Beker game between PSV and Excelsior. The Eredivisie leaders are eager to return to winning ways after dropping two points in a 2-2 draw with AZ Alkmaar and they are likely to stick to their attacking style of play. All Johan Bakayoko, Ricardo Pepi, Joey Veerman, and Guus Til should be recalled to the starting XI, while the likes of Babadi, Dest, Driouech, Fofana, Karsdorp, and Nagalo remain in the recovery room.
The Rotterdammers, on the other hand, are on a quest to return to the Dutch top flight. Excelsior are fully focused on the Eerste Divisie and even though PSV boss Peter Bosz is expected to shuffle his pack, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. Both Xander Blomme and Kik Pierie miss out with injuries, but they should be the only absentees in the visiting team.
Highlighted Player (Luuk de Jong):
The 26-year-old Dutch striker Luuk de Jong is considered one of Europe’s deadliest strikers with his incredible return of goals in games he spends playing. Luuk de Jong began his football career at De Graafschap in 2008, but moved on to Twente only a year later.
The tally of 39 goals in 76 league appearances earned him a transfer to Borussia Monchengladbach, but his spell in Germany ended in disappointment. Bundesliga club attempted to revive his career by sending him out on loan to Newcastle United but his stint with the English club yielded even more disappointment and concluded in utter disaster with De Jong playing 12 games without scoring a single goal for the Magpies.
A return to Netherlands and PSV Eindhoven turned out to be a proper hit for the 26-year-old striker who has restored his scoring touch with more than 50 goals for the Boeren after less than 90 games.
Highlighted Team (PSV):
Based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, PSV is a professional football club competing the top flight of the Dutch football, Eredivisie. PSV play their home games at the Phillips Stadium which can accommodate 35,000 people. Over the course of its 100-year-old history, PSV has become one of the country’s Big Three clubs that has dominated Eredivisie along with Ajax and Feyenoord.
Known as a stepping stone for future world-class stars, PSV propelled the likes of Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, Romario, Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy and most recently Arjen Robben. The Boeren (Peasants) as they call themselves take pride in Eindhoven’s status of being a provincial city and never hide their Brabantian heritage which allow them to enjoy their uniqueness in the company of more prominent clubs from Dutch big cities.
The Peasants boast 23 domestic league titles and 9 KNVB Cup trophies. They have also managed two major European titles – European Cup in 1987-88 and UEFA Cup in 1977-78.
