PSV Eindhoven return to Philips Stadion after a mixed start, and this one looks set up for chances at both ends. They beat SBV Excelsior 2-1 in Rotterdam for their first competitive win of the 2026-27 season, but that came after a 4-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the Johan Cruyff Shield and a 2-2 draw against Fortuna Sittard in the league opener. Bosz's side enter the weekend with four points from six.
PSV's attacking risk
The shape is clear enough. PSV want to impose games through aggression, and that leaves room for opponents if the first wave does not land. Sports Mole's preview desk summed it up well: "Their approach remains the same: score significantly more than the opponent, an all-or-nothing approach favoured by the ultra-attacking manager."
The numbers fit that reading. PSV scored 8 goals across their last five listed Champions League matches and conceded 9 in the same run. Those figures do not describe a side in control, but they do describe one capable of turning a match into a shootout quickly.
That also gives Groningen a route into the game. Sports Mole's preview desk said the visitors have "the attacking momentum to cause genuine problems on the counter," and Dick Lukkien's side have started the league with two wins from two. In transition, they look capable of asking real questions.
PSV's missing creativity
PSV are also adjusting to changes in the squad. Ismael Saibari is leaving for Bayern Munich and Joey Veerman is exiting to Borussia Dortmund, while Jerdy Schouten is definitely absent this weekend because of a serious knee injury.
Saibari's output shows what is being lost. He has 3 goals in 5 appearances this season, so his departure removes a player contributing directly at a strong rate. The broader issue is that Bosz has less margin for error in possession if the supply line is thinner and the game becomes stretched.
That is why Groningen should not be dismissed as just another home test for PSV. The visitors have enough pace in transition to turn loose control into danger, and if PSV open the pitch the way they often do, the away side will get moments to run into.
The favourite still looks obvious, but this is not the kind of fixture PSV can expect to win through territory alone. They have the attacking edge, Groningen have the counter threat, and the first home league win of the season should need more than a routine performance.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
