Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
PSV will be aiming to put an extra pressure on league leaders Ajax when they take on NEC Nijmegen on Matchday 16. PSV came from behind to beat Utrecht 4-1 in their last league match, and they are seen as hot favourites to win Sunday’s clash as well. Fit-again winger Noni Madueke is widely expected to return to the starting XI, while Carlos Vinicius should continue to lead the line for the visiting team.
NEC, on the other hand, aim to bounce back from back-to-back losses to Cambuur and RKC Waalwijk. Rogier Meijer’s troops have been struggling at the back of late, which is probably the main reason why we are tempted to put our money on the promotion-chasing visitors. Spain international Ivan Marquez Alvarez is banned for the match, while both Edgar Barreto and Jonathan Oika are sidelined with injuries.
Highlighted Player (Philipp Max):
Philipp Max is the son of the former striker Martin Max, who is famous for being one of the oldest winners of the top scorer crown in Bundesliga, at the age of 32 and 34. Born in Viersen, Germany, Philipp Max started his career in SC Baldham, after which he joined 1860 Munich in 2003.
Bayern Munich youth team was his next destination, but three years after Max signed for Schalke 04 in 2010. For two years he played in the youth team and after that he was moved to Schalke 04 II, recording 54 games and netting 3 goals in the process.
He made his debut for the Shalke 04 senior team on March 2014 in the clash against Borussia Dortmund, as a replacement for Julian Draxler. However, he did not impress during his spell with Die Königsblauen, so he moved to Karlsruher and later on to Augsburg, which was a spot on decision. The left back, who can also play as a left midfielder and left winger, was the second-best assist provider in the Bundesliga during the season 2017/18, just behind Thomas Muller.
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.