Highlighted: The Top Clash Feyenoord vs PSV

The Rotterdammers currently lead the table, three points clear of PSV. A win over the Eindhoven side on Sunday would open up a six-point gap and give Feyenoord a comfortable cushion over their other rivals. AZ trail by seven points and host FC Utrecht this weekend, while Ajax sit nine points adrift ahead of a tricky away trip to FC Twente.

PSV, on the other hand, have the chance to tighten the title race once again. A victory in De Kuip would see them draw level on points with Feyenoord, though the league leaders currently hold the edge on goal difference (+4). Robin van Persie’s side have built their success this season on a rock-solid defence, while PSV have been less stable at the back but devastating going forward. Their stunning 6-2 win over Italian champions Napoli on Tuesday perfectly underlined that attacking firepower.

All the ingredients are there for a fascinating encounter.

While Feyenoord held the upper hand in meetings with PSV for several years — going unbeaten between the 2018/19 and 2021/22 seasons — the tables have completely turned in recent times. Feyenoord have failed to win any of their last seven league encounters with the Eindhoven side (three draws, four defeats). Their only longer winless run against PSV came between 1983 and 1987 (ten matches).

Last season in particular proved difficult for the Rotterdammers, who lost all three clashes with PSV (3–0 and 2–3 in the league, and 2–0 in the KNVB Cup). Their only success came in the Johan Cruyff Shield, which they won on penalties.

Sunday will mark the third time Feyenoord have hosted PSV while starting the matchday as league leaders with PSV in second. They failed to win on both previous occasions: drawing 1–1 in April 1962 and losing 2–3 in January 1975. Can they finally change that this weekend?

This season, Feyenoord have been the Eredivisie’s benchmark defensively. Robin van Persie’s side have faced the fewest shots (73), fewest shots on target (19), lowest Expected Goals against (6.2) and fewest goals conceded (6) in the Eredivisie.

Goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther leads the clean sheet rankings with six, well ahead of Joël Drommel and Etienne Vaessen (both three). Jordan Bos ranks ninth for duels won (58) and joint-fourth for successful tackles in and around the box (11), while Sem Steijn is joint-second in the league for blocked shots (9). Tsuyoshi Watanabe has also been vital at the back, recording six interceptions, eight successful tackles and 53 duels won.

PSV, meanwhile, are not far behind. They’ve faced just 38 shots and conceded 12 goals, ranking in the league’s top five defensively. However, those 12 goals mean their average of 1.33 goals conceded per match is their highest since 2011/12 (1.38). Goalkeeper Matěj Kovář has kept only two clean sheets.

Where Feyenoord dominate defensively, Peter Bosz’s PSV lead every major attacking metric: most shots (178), most shots on target (71), highest Expected Goals (21.6) and most goals scored (27).

Joey Veerman has been the key man, leading the club with 4 goals (level with Guus Til), 4 assists (third-most in the league) and a team-high 29 chances created. Ivan Perišić has shone as well with 5 assists, while Ismael Saibari has been PSV’s main shooting threat — leading in total shots (26), shots on target (13) and off-target attempts (16). Saibari also shares the league lead for secondary assists (3) alongside Ryan Flamingo.

PSV can also take confidence from their recent away form: they’ve scored multiple goals in each of their last eleven away matches — their second-longest such run ever (behind a 12-game streak in 2016). Feyenoord goalkeeper Wellenreuther is certain to face a stern test again on Sunday.

At the other end, PSV’s defence will have their hands full trying to contain Ayase Ueda. With 11 goals — at least six more than his nearest challengers — the 27-year-old Japanese striker leads the race for the Willy van der Kuylen Trophy. Remarkably, none of his goals this season have come from the penalty spot. Across Europe’s top ten leagues, no player has scored more non-penalty goals than Ueda (11, level with Erling Haaland). Will Ueda double his lead in the scoring charts this weekend?

The 2025/26 Eredivisie title race already looks to be shaping into a two-horse battle, but this first meeting between Feyenoord and PSV is far from decisive. According to the Opta Predictor, Feyenoord enter the match with a 46% chance of winning the title, while PSV are slightly favoured at 51%.

A Feyenoord victory on Sunday would open up a six-point gap and increase their title probability to 62%. If PSV come out on top, they would draw level on points and boost their championship odds to 59% after Matchweek 10.

Last season proved that even a sizeable lead doesn’t guarantee the trophy, but both Feyenoord and PSV have a chance to take a major step toward it this weekend.

Who will come out on top? Find out this Sunday as Feyenoord host PSV - live here.