PSV has recovered after two league defeats in a row. Vitesse was defeated in Arnhem with convincing figures. The team from Eindhoven shone in the Gelredome and recorded a handsome 5-0 victory.
Was PSV that good or Vitesse that bad? That was the question many people in the stands were asking. PSV was already leading 3-0 within half an hour. An unprecedented opulence for the people of Eindhoven, who even fell short with ‘only’ three goals in the first half.
You are short of superlatives when you have to describe the game of PSV. Vitesse gave it all the freedom to play football and did so with verve. It made the most of the laid out red carpet.
New impetus
That red carpet was mainly on the right side of the field. There it was enjoying Noni Madueke. The attacker returned from a long injury last Tuesday and was immediately important against NAC with a goal and assist.
The wing attacker was also involved in the goals in Arnhem. In both the 1-0 and the 3-0 he was at the basis of the goal. With the opening goal, his cross was initially not used by Mario Götze, but the rebound was a prey for Eran Zahavi.
After Mauro Júnior had doubled the lead, Madueke was able to put an assist to his name with the third Eindhoven goal. Cody Gakpo had an unmissable opportunity to pass from the Englishman.
Madueke provides new impetus at PSV with his flashy actions. Something Roger Schmidt’s team could use after two league defeats in a row.
Color on the cheeks
Despite the fact that after the 0-3 the foot went off the accelerator pedal a bit more, there was also cheering in the second half. Ibrahim Sangaré was not selfish and gave substitute Carlos Vinícius an unmissable opportunity. The Brazilian striker made it 0-4. Ritsu Doan put the 0-5 final score on the scoreboard three minutes before the end.
The victory over Vitesse comes as soon as possible. With another defeat, the word crisis could have been taken out of the fridge. It won’t come to that. In fact, PSV made an impression. The team had some color on their cheeks again and played perhaps the best game of the season.
Also looking at the rankings, the victory in the Gelredome was much needed. Feyenoord is on the heels of the Eindhoven team in the battle for second place. In addition, PSV will remain in the title race with Ajax. The team from Amsterdam now has two points more but will play against FC Twente tomorrow.