PSV v Sparta Rotterdam match preview

PSV travel to Rotterdam Saturday evening to face Sparta as the defending champions are in a desperate hunt to qualify for the Europa League. Five points behind Heerenveen, Dwight Lodeweges' side look towards the tilt against relegation threatened Sparta as a "must-win".

While endless local media sources are claiming that ex-Schalke coach Huub Stevens is ready to take charge of the Eindhoven side, the present manager said of Saturday's match:

"I hope we’ll do well after the Eredivisie has paused for two weeks. It’s crucial that we win every game at this stage of the season. We need all three points on Saturday night. But so do Sparta, who will continue their bid for Eredivisie survival.”

Sparta will be without PSV on-loan 'keeper Cássio Ramos, who was injured in practice as well as Charles Dissels and Sander van Gessel. Dwight Lodeweges will go forward without Stef Nijland and Funso Ojo to injury as well as Mike Zonneveld who is in the sin-bin. There is some concern of preparedness of players coming in from international duty which will require evaluation and could change the starting eleven. Greatest concern is of Carlos Salcido (Mexico) and Edison Méndez (Equador) with apparently no issues with Danko Lazović (Serbia), Balázs Dzsudzsák (Hungary) and Andreas Isaksson (Sweden).