Saturday’s game at Philips Stadion is set to be a clash between two teams on very different trajectories. The reigning champions, PSV Eindhoven, are flying high and will be looking to continue their perfect start to the season when they face off against SC Telstar, a team that is still finding its footing in the top flight after a 47-year absence.
PSV has been dominant, picking up where they left off after winning the Super Cup and their 26th league title last season. They've kicked off the new Eredivisie campaign with a bang, netting 12 goals in their first three games and maintaining a flawless record. They've already crushed Sparta Rotterdam 6-1, secured a hard-fought 2-0 win against FC Twente, and most recently, took down Groningen 4-2.
PSV is the clear favorite for this weekend’s match, especially with the home crowd behind them. Their recent form is impressive, and they've also won their last three matchups against Telstar. With 12 goals scored so far—tying for the best in the league—the home team has plenty of reasons to feel confident.
Meanwhile, Telstar’s return to the top division has been a challenge. They started with two 2-0 losses to Ajax Amsterdam and PEC Zwolle. While they finally managed to get their first point and first two goals in their last game, it was a bittersweet moment. They had a two-goal lead and the chance for their first win of the season, only to see it slip away. Soufiane Hetli and Patrick Brouwer had put them ahead, but defensive lapses and a loss of focus cost them the victory. Despite that encouraging-if-disappointing result, they're now facing their toughest test yet in PSV.
As for player availability, PSV may be missing some key players. Alassane Plea and Mauro Junior both sat out the last game with injuries they picked up against Twente. Their absence forced manager Peter Bosz to shuffle his lineup, with Dennis Man and Ruben Van Bommel starting on the wings and veteran Ivan Perisic leading the attack. Kiliann Sildillia also filled in at left-back for the injured Mauro Junior, and it's unclear if Junior will be back for Saturday's game.
While PSV has spread the goals around—with players like Van Bommel, Guus Til, and Esmir Bajraktarevic all having two goals each—it will be interesting to see if Bajraktarevic can earn a spot in the starting lineup. On the other hand, Telstar has better luck with injuries; the only concern is Mo Hamdaoui, who has been sidelined since last season.
