PSV Kick Off Three-Peat Bid in Style
PSV Eindhoven launched their Eredivisie title defense in emphatic fashion on Saturday, dismantling Sparta Rotterdam 6-1 at the Philips Stadion. The reigning Dutch champions wasted no time asserting their dominance, with six different players getting involved in the scoring and former PSV goalkeeper Joel Drommel enduring a forgettable night between the posts for the visitors.
This marks back-to-back victories for PSV in competitive fixtures, following their 2-1 triumph over Go Ahead Eagles in the Johan Cruyff Shield just days prior.
Van Bommel Shines on Full Debut, Drommel Falters on Return
Making his first official start for PSV, Ruben van Bommel didn’t take long to make an impact. The winger—recovered from a recent back injury—opened the scoring in just the second minute, catching Drommel off-guard with a clever strike using the outside of his boot. Drommel, who rejoined Sparta this summer after a spell at PSV, failed to protect his near post, setting the tone for a difficult outing.
The visitors introduced four new faces to their starting lineup, including former Dutch international Bruno Martins Indi and attacking midfielder Sayf Ltaief, on loan from FC Twente. But their efforts to resist PSV’s pressure proved futile.
PSV Dominate From Set Pieces and Distance
By the 40th minute, PSV had doubled their lead through Ivan Perisic, who headed home from a corner. Just before halftime, right-back Sergiño Dest extended the advantage with a thunderous strike that left Drommel no chance, sending the hosts into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Sparta attempted to regroup after halftime, but their defensive frailties were once again exposed. Midfielder Joey Veerman capitalized on poor marking and another blunder from Drommel, whose inability to handle the shot saw the ball slip through his hands for PSV’s fourth.
Ltaief Nets Consolation Before PSV Add Two More
Sparta’s only highlight came around the hour mark when Shunsuke Mito broke free down the wing and set up Ltaief, who marked his debut with a well-taken finish to make it 4-1.
However, any hopes of a comeback were swiftly dashed. Guus Til restored the four-goal cushion after being left completely unmarked in the box, before Yarek Gasiorowski capped off the rout with a powerful header from a corner to make it 6-1.
What’s Next for PSV?
PSV’s confident start sends a strong message to the rest of the Eredivisie as they pursue a third consecutive league title. Next up: a challenging away fixture against FC Twente, where they’ll aim to maintain their perfect start to the new campaign.
