Twente 2-0 PSV: Twente go top
The starting line-ups
FC Twente moved ahead of PSV Eindhoven, thanks to two goals from Theo Janssen.
Nikolay Mihaylov replaced Sander Boschker in goal, in Michel Preud’homme’s only change – Bryan Ruiz was only on the bench.
Fred Rutten named an unchanged side from the XI which beat Utrecht the previous weekend.
The game started at a slow tempo. The most obvious feature were that the two midfield trios were ‘matched’ up against each other in the centre of the pitch, with clear 1 v 1 battles. None of these players could get away from their marker to receive the ball, and therefore both sides spent the first few minutes playing the ball across the defence.
Direct play
With the midfield so unproductive in terms of creativity, both started trying to play direct balls from the defence to the two wide players. PSV did this slightly better than Twente – Balázs Dzsudzsák showed good awareness of the situation to drop deep and get service into feet, though this meant Emir Bajrami was in a position to double up, whilst Jeremain Lens stayed wide and wanted balls played down the wing. The best chances early on came from set-pieces.
The first half went through phases – around 20 minutes, both sides started trying to play balls over the top of the opposition defence. Denny Landzaat’s overhit pass almost found Wout Brama, who made a rare run from deep, and then Wilfred Bouma stepped out of the back to sweep a wonderful ball over to Marcus Berg, who wasted the opportunity. Berg had a poor game, staying upfront as a poacher but wasting chances, whilst Luuk de Jong was more of a link-up man.
That development owed much to both sides playing higher up and leaving space in behind, and another result of this was the increase in counter-attacking towards the end of the first half, as both sides left gaps at the back. Berg had another couple of chances here, as PSV seemed more suited to the counter-attacking game.
Second half
The tempo of the game increased again in the second half, with both sides pressing more and putting more pressure on each other’s defences. Again, this seemed to favour PSV, who were on top for the first 15 minutes of the second half – they seemed more mobile without the ball, and more cohesive when they tried to win it back.
Twente were hanging on slightly – but were still looking to score, and it was an entertaining contest as both sides looked to get the three points, rather than settling for a 0-0.
Ruiz on
The game changed significantly with the introduction of Bryan Ruiz, the Twente forward who caused havoc with his dribbling and immediately shifted the balance of play. Twente were more of a force in the game, and Ruiz found it easy to pick up possession – and one of his dribbles resulted in a penalty, converted by Janssen.
PSV had to respond, though Rutten didn’t change his system. Instead, he introduced Genero Zeefuik as a direct replacement for Berg, keeping the 4-2-3-1 shape and the same strategy he started the game with. However, as PSV seemed to be favouring a quick, confrontational game towards the start of the second half, they were now less effective when Twente had the luxury of sitting back and soaking up pressure. PSV found it difficult to play the ball to their wide players, and missed the presence of Ola Toivonen when playing through the centre.
Twente played on the counter late on, and Janssen grabbed his second with a wonderful run and chip.
Conclusion
A game of many parts – six, in fact, roughly in 15-minute spells. We had, in sequence (a) a slow, cagey game with all six midfielders struggling for time on the ball, (b) a period where the defences pushed up and both played longer balls, (c) a brief spell of counter-attacking before half-time, (d) more pressing in the second half and PSV on top, (e) Ruiz’s introduction putting Twente in command, and (f) PSV pushing for an equaliser, and Twente playing on the break.
PSV may feel slightly aggrieved at the scoreline – they created a few chances, but Berg wasted too many. The tactical battle was relatively even, and really the difference came from two individual runs – first from Ruiz, then from Janssen.
Twente 2-0 PSV: Twente go top
Cheers for the write-up on this game … what is interesting is that PSV will play Benfica later this week and you also covered them this weekend.
I’m a PSV fan and was disappointed by the result but I felt it coming;
1. PSV do not really have a very strong leader or presence on the field. This would have negated the effect of Ruiz coming on, who has been injured recently, PSV showed too much admiration for this player. Not saying they should have played dirty but a little tougher would have been okay negating the Ruiz factor. Also no one is stepping up to take charge of the title run which was (and still slightly is) within their grasp.
2. The whole Berg and Bakkal (note the spelling; an “a” not a “u” as in the line-up above) is a bit of a disaster. Two quality players but both hounded by insecurities coming from Rutten’s decisions and a continual form crisis. In the case of Bakkal, he has not had the trust that he should have been given, it seems he has been played with some hesitancy by the trainer, the last of the 11 to be picked as it were. This is a guy from their own youth system who has played for all the Youth Netherlands squads and been great, he needs the trust to pick up that game and bring it to a higher level, the various coaches over the past years have not given him that. Berg is out of form and has been so for pretty much the whole season, he is one of those sensitive players that need to be nurtured, the media and all have really hyped up his lack of form and he constantly gets subbed for second-rate strikers. This happened at the start of the season and he has struggled since, a loan deal that was just a waste of money (Berg is on loan and no one at all is profiting from it neither player nor both teams involved,) whereas if at the start he had been given the confidence (especially after the Reis injury) and had played 90 minutes week in week out, it would have been okay … Rutten’s instability and tactics (that are not exciting or a great guarantee for goals) and the modern football environment, which has no time for anybody, have been his downfall.
Ruiz just returned from a long injury lay-off, ZM. I hope he can start against Villarreal on Thursday because he adds so much to this Twente side. For PSV Toivonen will return for Europa League action and although I feel both Dutch sides aren’t favorites in their ties, they surely have a chance in what should be very interesting match ups.
Bart, I do agree that Rutten’s inability to inspire his players is probably the biggest reason of PSV’s struggles this season. I’ve always been told he’s a peoples person, but I don’t have the feeling that his players are willing to fight for him, or each other. They lack cohesion and largely depend on the individual prowess from Dzsudzsak, Toivonen and Lens. I wonder, had Reis been fit would you have preferred Berg over him?
so true about the individual moments … I would have to say I’d have played Reis throughout the season if he was not injured for a couple of reasons …
1. I prefer players who are on contract to hired players … there’s no continuity in loaning players, if Berg was brilliant then HSV(I think) would want him back for the next season to give him another shot. If he did bad (as is the case now) what is the incentive of keeping him? especially if the coaching staff and key members of the club stay the same and what is the deal that was made between the clubs with relation to buyout, also German wages are miles higher than Dutch wages so would you pay a high wage to what was basically a failure in the first year? Basically loan players block youth development and I’m not too keen on them at all. Only in the highest of emergency cases but that is not so here.
2. Reis went through a terrible personal time over the past few years but … and this is where Rutten has done well … he has been inspired to clean up his life and focus on football. He has a contract which needs looking at as right now PSV have to decide if they pick up the 3 option years. In other words I would have given him the chance to prove his worth.
So strange that Reis got all the credit and confidence of the club but it seems that Berg got none.
3. Reis is more talented and will bring PSV money in the future, they badly need both. He’s also 3 years younger.
Well, whoever has the confidence in Berg I’m sure they can pick up a striker who has shown quality in the past for next to nothing this coming summer, I’m looking at Racing Santander, my city’s team … hehehe, send Rosenberg back to Germany (also a loan.)
PSV also have Zeefuik and Koevermans, the first is young and a decent prospect, the second should not be on the team.
Also … Toivonen is still an injury doubt for the Benfica match … but I’d play him and see how far he goes, I think he’s pretty much suspended for all the rest of the league matches (except last) so the EL is the only place he can still play.
Michael, thanks for turning your attention to the Eredivisie once more!
I think one of the decisive factors in this match with two very balanced teams in terms of formations, was the different role played by both strikers. Berg failed to apply his game of snatching goal scoring chances, while De Jong performed excellently in his deep-lying forward role, providing an offensive passing outlet for Janssen and Landzaat.
Also, happy to note the similarities between your match report and mine, meaning I didn’t miss any major developments…
You wrote Dzudzak’s or whatever his name is wrong I think, but it’s great that you cover the Dutch and the Portugues league as well, appreciate it.
Cheers and keep up the good work mate
Thanks for reporting on this match ZM! Although I can imagine that it’s not easy, considering the standard of play in the Eredivisie.