KNVB meets PSV and moves battle for the Johan Cruijff Scale

The KNVB has brought forward the duel for the Johan Cruijff Scale between Feyenoord and PSV for two days. The game was initially scheduled for Sunday, August 6, but will now start on Friday-evening, August 4 at 8 PM. PSV will therefore have two days more rest in the run-up to the first match in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, which will be played on August 8 or 9.

The KNVB has taken this decision with all parties involved. According to the Dutch football association, it is important that PSV wins the matches in the preliminary rounds of the Champions League, because this way the team can collect coefficient points for the Eredivisie. If PSV does not survive the preliminary rounds of the ball of millions, the club will play in the Europa League.

Last year, the team from Eindhoven competed against Ajax for the Johan Cruijff Scale. In Amsterdam, the team of then trainer Ruud van Nistelrooij was 3-5 too strong for the team from Amsterdam. Guus Til made that match a hat-trick. Cody Gakpo and Xavi Simons also put their names on the scoreboard. On the Amsterdam side, Steven Bergwijn, Antony and Mohammed Kudus accounted for the hits.

This year, for the first time in a long time, the match for the Johan Cruijff Scale will not be held in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, but in De Kuip. That last happened in 2017, when Feyenoord became champion a few months earlier under Giovanni van Bronckhorst. In recent years, Ajax, as champion, had the right to play the battle for the Johan Cruijff Scale in its own stadium.