PSV vs Sparta Rotterdam Predictions

• PSV have won and conceded in each of their last three games against Sparta.
• Sparta have scored in 18 of their last 19 games including friendlies.
• PSV have won their last eight competitive games but have managed just one clean sheet during that run.

PSV can kick off defence with a victory

PSV defeated Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 earlier this month to claim the Johan Cruyff Shield and now open their title defence with a home game against Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday evening.

PSV won the title last season by beating the visitors 3-1 in the final round of fixtures and their win over Go Ahead Eagles means they are on an eight-game winning run stretching back into last season.

The hosts should win this comfortably and that is reflected in PSV being a short price for all three points. The best option to get a bigger price out of siding with the hosts is backing them to win and concede, as PSV have found clean sheets hard to come by and Sparta are generally good for a goal.

Sparta have scored in defeat in each of the last three head-to-head games and they scored in all of their pre-season games, while PSV have just two clean sheets in their last 19 competitive games.

Sparta restricted PSV to three goals at the end of last season but the hosts may be able to go one better in Eindhoven, so a 4-1 home win is the correct score pick.