PSV can call itself winter champion of the Eredivisie. Roger Schmidt’s team defeated Go Ahead Eagles almost effortlessly without playing too big. Phillipp Mwene scored early in the game from a nice long shot, after which Cody Gakpo decided it in the second half: 2-0. PSV enter the winter break with one point ahead of Ajax and four on Feyenoord, while Go Ahead Eagles overwinter in eleventh place.
Yorbe Vertessen and Carlos Vinícius took the places at PSV from Bruma and Ritsu Doan, who were both injured against RKC Waalwijk last Sunday. Go Ahead Eagles tried to defend compactly from the start, but had to concede a goal within nine minutes. Mwene dribbled in a few meters from the right and placed the ball from eighteen meters with the left exactly in the far corner: 1-0.
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PSV lost André Ramalho in the 28th minute. The Brazilian defender’s ankle collapsed after a duel with Iñigo Córdoba. Five minutes later, Mario Götze ran into the hands of Warner Hahn from inside the penalty area, after which Cody Gakpo fired the rebound wide. In the closing second of the first half, Vertessen had a huge opportunity after a low cross from Gakpo, but the Belgian shot over the top in complete freedom.
Ten minutes after the break, Carlos Vinícius also had a great chance after another good job by Gakpo. The PSV striker shot right in front of the goal, however, at Wahn. PSV came up against ten men twenty minutes before the end, when Joris Kramer was shown red for taking down the broken Vertessen. Referee Dennis Higler needed the images on the sidelines to make that decision.
Shortly afterwards, Gakpo shot just wide from a low cross, after which Go Ahead also showed himself in an offensive way. A dangerous free kick by Philippe Rommens was tapped out of the goal at the last minute by Joël Drommel, after which Luuk Brouwers headed just wide from the ensuing corner. PSV decided the game moments later via Gakpo, who was able to tap in at the far post after good preparatory work by substitute Maximiliano Romero: 2-0. Mauro Júnior then shot the bar from close range.