Desperate Groningen Faces PSV in Critical Eredivisie Showdown

Groningen, Netherlands — In a must-win Eredivisie clash, Groningen welcomes PSV Eindhoven to Euroborg on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 7 p.m. local time. The match is critical for both teams, with Groningen aiming to secure a top-eight finish for European qualification, while PSV seeks to reclaim their title aspirations.

Despite struggling with scoring, totaling only 26 goals so far this season — just ahead of bottom-placed Almere City with 18 — Groningen sits in eighth place, four points clear of 15th-placed Sparta Rotterdam. They seek to bounce back after a humbling 4-1 defeat to Feyenoord, marking their heaviest loss since a previous 5-0 drubbing by PSV earlier this season.

Groningen coach Dick Lukkien remains optimistic about his squad’s potential, urging players to secure critical points in the final matches of the season. “We are determined to keep our European hopes alive,” Lukkien said. “Every match is vital, and we need to capitalize on our home advantage against PSV.”

On the other hand, PSV Eindhoven, once frontrunners for the title, has seen a dramatic decline in form this year, currently trailing Ajax by nine points. Their last win came against Waalwijk, breaking a four-match winless streak. However, a recent loss to Ajax further diminished their title hopes, making Saturday’s game crucial for a realistic chance at climbing back into the title race.

“We need to focus on winning every match left if we wish to challenge for the title again,” PSV’s coach Peter Bosz stated. “We have the quality, but we must perform consistently to turn things around.”

Historically, PSV has dominated this matchup, winning nine of their last ten encounters. Nevertheless, Groningen hopes to leverage their strong home record, having not lost at Euroborg since October, when they conceded only seven goals across 13 matches.

Possible lineups include Groningen fielding Vaessen in goal, supported defensively by Rente, Ekdal, Blokzijl, and Prins, with an attacking lineup featuring Bacuna, Resink, and Schreuders. PSV is expected to start Benitez in goal, with key players Dest and Malacia anchoring the defense, and attacking threats like Perisic and De Jong leading their offense.

With both teams under pressure and fighting for critical points, Saturday’s match promises to be an intense battle, as Groningen fights for European qualification and PSV looks to salvage their season.