High Stakes in De Kuip: All Eyes on Feyenoord v PSV
When the Eredivisie schedule was released, Feyenoord v PSV in matchday 32 was earmarked as a potential turning point in the title race. And while Feyenoord never quite entered the championship picture this season, the clash in De Kuip could still prove pivotal.
PSV trail league leaders Ajax by four points and must win to keep their title hopes alive. A loss in Rotterdam would leave them reliant on results elsewhere — and could open the door for Ajax to clinch their 37th Dutch league title later that day with a home victory over N.E.C. At the same time, Feyenoord have plenty to play for as well. A win would keep them firmly in the hunt for second place, which grants direct access to the League Phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League. The stakes are high — and the scenarios wide open.
Unbeaten Run vs Attacking Firepower
Feyenoord enter Sunday’s showdown in red-hot form. Since Robin van Persie took over in February, they’ve won seven straight league games and could make it eight — something they last achieved during a 13-match streak between February and May 2023.But that doesn’t make them automatic favourites. PSV have found their rhythm again, playing with attacking fluency and intent. Over their last four Eredivisie matches, they’ve scored 15 times — an average of 3.8 goals per game — combining efficiency with entertainment.
Guus Til Keeps Delivering — And May Not Be Alone
Former Feyenoord midfielder Guus Til remains central to PSV’s push. With two assists in the previous round, he became the first Eredivisie player this season to hit double figures in both goals and assists. It’s a testament to his consistency: in each of his six seasons as a regular starter, Til has scored at least nine times, peaking at 15 goals during his single campaign in Rotterdam (2021/22).
Til isn’t alone. Noa Lang (9 goals, 10 assists) and Ismael Saibari (9 goals, 11 assists) are also on the cusp of the ‘10+10 club’. Both have scored against Feyenoord before, and if either finds the net on Sunday, PSV could become only the second team in the last decade to have two players reach those marks in a single season — after Ajax’s Tadić and Ziyech in 2018/19.
ALMELO, 18 August 2024 – Heracles vs PSV. Guus Til (PSV) celebrates his goal against Heracles.
Feyenoord Flying Under Van Persie
Under Van Persie, Feyenoord have been the Eredivisie’s best-performing side. Across eight matches, they’ve gone unbeaten (W7-D1), collecting more points than any other club in that span. Defensively, they’ve kept four clean sheets — a league-high shared with FC Utrecht.
But it’s up front where the numbers are most striking. Since March, 21.1% of Feyenoord’s shots have found the net — the best conversion rate in the league, comfortably ahead of PSV’s 14.1%. They’ve scored 24 goals from just 13.6 expected goals — a staggering +10.4 overperformance. No team in top form is as ruthless, and no Feyenoord manager has made a stronger start in the league than Van Persie since Ernst Happel in 1969.
That run now faces its toughest test — a PSV side chasing the title and capable of spoiling the party in Rotterdam.
ALMELO, 3 May 2025 – Heracles vs Feyenoord. Feyenoord players celebrate Anis Hadj Moussa’s goal to make it 0-2.
De Kuip at the heart of the title race
The numbers promise a clash packed with intensity and finesse. Feyenoord are firing on all cylinders under Robin van Persie, while PSV are chasing what could be a final lifeline in the title race. On Sunday, De Kuip won’t just host a top-tier encounter — it may become the turning point in the championship, sealing fates or opening the door to glory.
📺 Watch live in the Netherlands on ESPN, or tune in via your local broadcaster. Live updates and stats available in the Eredivisie app (Dutch App Store and Google Play).
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