PSV starts on Saturday evening with Ibrahim Sangaré in the base against FC Groningen. The Ivorian is preferred to Pablo Rosario in midfield, who is sitting on the bench. For the rest, the Eindhoven players start with the same players as last week against VVV-Venlo (0-2 victory). The game is dominated by PSV icon Willy van der Kuijlen, who died on Monday at the age of 74 from Alzheimer’s disease. The kick-off is at 6.45 pm in the Philips Stadium.
Lately, Olivier Boscagli has been playing in midfield at PSV and this will also be the case against FC Groningen. The Frenchman forms a controlling block with Sangaré. Rosario, normally Boscagli’s midfield partner, is sitting on the bench. For the rest, nothing changes, leaving Yvon Mvogo in goal again. The defense is formed by Denzel Dumfries, Jordan Teze, Nick Viergever and Philipp Max.
The attacking midfielders of PSV are again Mario Götze and Cody Gakpo, which means that Noni Madueke and Mohamed Ihattaren, among others, have to settle for a place on the reserve bench. The regular striker couple of trainer Roger Schmidt consists of Eran Zahavi and Donyell Malen.
On the side of FC Groningen, Arjen Robben is missing, who was found not to be fit enough for the match.
PSV line-up: Mvogo; Dumfries, Teze, Viergever, Max; Sangaré, Boscagli; Götze, Gakpo; Zahavi, Malen
Line-up FC Groningen: nnb