Nijmegen vs PSV – News and Probable Lineups

This season’s first semi-final in the KNVB Beker features NEC facing PSV Eindhoven at Goffertstadion on Tuesday evening.

Both sides are keen to secure their spot in next month’s final, where they could vie for the trophy against either AZ Alkmaar or Telstar.

Match overview

Marking their return to the KNVB Beker semi-finals for the fourth time in five years, PSV has the opportunity to redeem themselves after last year’s unexpected elimination at the hands of the eventual champions, Go Ahead Eagles.

After a disappointing Champions League run where they exited during the group stages, Peter Bosz’s squad now aims to build on their Super Cup victory from earlier in the season and pursue a domestic treble.

The Rood-witten took a significant step towards Eredivisie success with a decisive 3-1 victory over Heracles on Saturday. Now boasting a 17-point lead over Feyenoord with just nine games remaining, clinching a third consecutive league title seems highly probable.

Encouraged by convincing wins over GVVV (3-0), Den Bosch (4-1), and Heerenveen (4-1), PSV is set on reaching their 20th Dutch Cup final and their third within six years, having gone a decade without one between 2012 and 2022.

Although PSV has lost only one of their last 25 encounters with NEC, they will approach their trip to Nijmegen with caution, especially given they have conceded three goals in each of their last three matches there.

NEC’s impressive 4-1 triumph over Heracles at the beginning of February extended their unbeaten streak to 13 matches across all competitions (11 wins, 2 draws), but their form has dipped since then.

Losses to FC Utrecht and Fortuna Sittard, along with draws against Sparta Rotterdam and Ajax, have left Dick Schreuder’s team winless in four matches for the first time in nearly a year.

Currently fourth in the league—just one point shy of third—NEC is on track to secure European competition for next season, while also seeking their first major trophy since 2015.

Contrasting with PSV, the Eniesee have battled hard to reach the KNVB Beker semi-finals, with each of their four cup victories this season coming by a single goal, including wins against lower-league sides in the opening three rounds.

Having conceded the first goal in eight consecutive fixtures against their upcoming rivals, the hosts will face a significant challenge if they fall behind again, particularly against an opponent that has lost just once after scoring first since November 2024.

Team News

Nineteen-year-old Freek Entius is out with a long-term knee injury and remains NEC’s only confirmed absentee at this time.

Tjaronn Chery’s goal against Fortuna means he has been directly involved in five goals during his last six starts for the home side, making him one to watch here as he also netted against PSV in their most recent encounter in September.

Ruben van Bommel and Alassane Plea are both unavailable for PSV as they recover from knee injuries, and Nick Olij is out due to a groin strain.

Leading scorer Guus Til will also miss this match for the visitors, who are currently concerned about the fitness of Anass Salah-Eddine.

With another assist in the 3-1 victory over Heracles, Joey Veerman now boasts 21 goal contributions for the season—eight goals and 13 assists—and will be looking to deliver once more.

NEC probable starting XI:

Crettaz; Dasa, Kaplan, Fonville; Ouaissa, Nejasmic, Sano, Onal; Chery, Lebreton; Linssen

PSV Eindhoven probable starting XI:

Kovar; Mauro Jr, Gasiorowski, Schouten, Dest; Veerman, Wanner; Perisic, Saibari, Male; Boadu

PSV has not secured a clean sheet away at NEC since 2021, and current trends suggest that this is unlikely to change, as the visitors have conceded goals in each of their last five matches leading up to Tuesday.

Nonetheless, we expect them to advance to the KNVB Beker final with a commanding performance by the final whistle in Nijmegen.