On Friday, the Johan Cruyff Shield (Dutch Super Cup) will be contested between Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven, marking the start of the 2023-24 Dutch football calendar.
At the beginning of each campaign, the Johan Cruyff Shield brings together the reigning Eredivisie champions and the winner of last season’s KNVB Cup.
¡Feliz cumpleaños, Chucky! 🇲🇽🥳Te queremos mucho 🫶 pic.twitter.com/2TRw7u744x— PSV Español (@PSVespanol) July 30, 2023
¡Feliz cumpleaños, Chucky! 🇲🇽🥳Te queremos mucho 🫶 pic.twitter.com/2TRw7u744x
Feyenoord clinched the Eredivisie titles last term, finishing seven points clear of second-placed PSV, who defeated Ajax on penalties to lift the KNVB Cup.
Impressively, Feyenoord lost just two of their 34 league games last season, picking up 25 wins and seven draws along the way.
As a result, the De Kuip outfit picked up their first Eredivisie title since 2016-17, ending a run of three straight triumphs for Ajax in the process.
Since then, Feyenoord have played a series of pre-season friendlies, recording three wins, two draws and one loss.
Having defeated Zwolle, Club Brugge, and most recently Benfica in pre-season, the Rotterdam outfit will fancy their chances of winning the Dutch Super Cup.
As for PSV Eindhoven, they finished as runners-up to Feyenoord last term after recording 23 wins, six draws and five losses in the Eredivisie.
It is worth noting, however, that PSV were the highest scorers in the Dutch top flight last season, netting 89 goals at a rate of 2.6 goals per game.
PSV’s 2022-23 campaign ultimately ended in success as they dispatched Ajax in the KNVB Cup final, drawing 1-1 before winning 3-2 on penalties.
The Eindhoven outfit have also won each of their past four pre-season friendlies, with a 1-0 victory over Premier League side Nottingham Forest coming last time out.
Head-to-head: Across all competitions, PSV Eindhoven have managed to win just one of their previous 11 meetings with Feyenoord.
That said, PSV have won two of their last three Dutch Super Cup meetings with Feyenoord, winning 2-0 in 2008 before triumphing 1-0 in 2016.
Team news: Feyenoord are expected to be without the injured duo of Patrik Walemark and Gernot Trauner for Friday’s showdown.
PSV Eindhoven also have a couple of injury doubts, with Armando Obispo and Mauro Junior expected to miss the Super Cup.
Although Feyenoord finished seven points clear of PSV last season, the Eindhoven outfit look set to carry their strong pre-season form into Friday’s clash.
With that in mind, Forebet predicts that PSV will secure the Johan Cruyff Shield with a narrow victory over Feyenoord.