PSV and Sparta Rotterdam will face off in a crucial Round 15 matchup in the Eredivisie. PSV currently sit in joint second place, three points behind league leaders Feyenoord, while Sparta Rotterdam lie in sixth place, six points behind PSV. The Eindhoven side have had a strong start to the season under manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy and have become known for their exciting, attacking style of play. However, the team will be without star player Cody Gakpo, who recently transferred to Liverpool in a club record deal. Gakpo was a key attacking player for PSV and his departure could impact the team's performance. Despite this loss, PSV have been in good form recently, winning four of their last five competitive games and all three of their friendlies during the international break, including a 3-0 victory over Milan. The team are also dominant at the Philips Stadium, with nine wins and just one defeat in its last eleven home games. However, in past meetings with Sparta Rotterdam, PSV have struggled to score more than one goal, managing to do so in just two of their last seven home encounters against them.
The visitors have been one of the positive surprise teams in the Eredivisie this season, sitting just four points off the top four. The team have lost just one of their last nine competitive games, winning six in the process, and also won three of their four friendlies during the international break. Furthermore, Sparta boast a strong away defensive record, conceding just eight goals in six away games, and have managed to contain Dutch heavyweights such as Ajax and Twente, conceding just once in both of those encounters. However, their record at the Philips Stadium is poor, having lost six of seven visits. Despite this, only one of those losses was by a margin greater than one goal, indicating that Sparta are capable of competing with the top teams in the league.