Roger Schmidt has announced PSV’s line-up for the home game against Willem II on Sunday afternoon. Compared to the duel with SC Cambuur last week (1-2 win), Cody Gakpo and Ibrahim Sangaré appear at the starting signal again. Mario Götze is ill and will be replaced by Carlos Vinícius, which means that PSV will probably start in a 4-4-2 formation. Erick Gutiérrez replaces the injured André Ramalho as central defender. Kick-off is at 2.30 pm in the Philips Stadium.
Gakpo and Sangaré were kept aside by Schmidt last week against SC Cambuur (1-2) because of the artificial grass and the busy PSV program. A week later, the duo does start. In addition to Joey Veerman, Sangaré has a place available as a controlling midfielder, because Gutiérrez drops a line due to the absence of Ramalho. Gakpo is presumably left winger in a 4-4-2 system from Schmidt; Ritsu Doan covers the other flank. Vinícius starts next to Eran Zahavi in the front.
PSV still has a minimal chance of the national title due to Ajax’s 3-0 victory over PEC Zwolle on Saturday evening. The gap with the leader from Amsterdam is now seven points, although Schmidt’s team still has one match to go. Next week, the squatter awaits against Feyenoord in De Kuip and after that they will take on NEC (11 May) and PEC Zwolle (15 May). Cup winner PSV lost 2-1 to Willem II earlier this season, partly due to an own goal by Eran Zahavi.
PSV line-up: corporate social responsibility; Mauro Junior, Ramalho, Teze, Max; Veerman, Sangare; Doan, Gakpo; Vinicius, Zahavic
William II setup: wellenreuther; Owusu, Dammers, Jenssen, Kohn; Saddiki, Svensson, Llonch; Nunnely, Kabangu, Kohler