If you want drama, if you want real stakes in October—look no further than De Herdgang this Monday, where the upstart kids of Jong PSV have the audacity to believe they can topple the Eerste Divisie’s one true juggernaut. This is more than a match; it’s an early-season referendum on supremacy, mentality, and whether pure, uncut momentum really is a force of nature in football.

Ignore the calendar. This is a top-of-the-table clash with the weight of May hanging in the air. ADO Den Haag, unbeaten, untouchable, and unrepentant, have stormed through the season like a yellow-and-green hurricane: eight wins, one draw, no losses. Every time they step on the pitch they’re rewriting their own narrative—a club that spent years wrangling with mediocrity now marching with swagger and scoring for fun. And on the other side? Jong PSV, the third-place prodigies, brimming with raw talent, desperate to prove that the future is not just something to be developed, but something that can seize the present.

The form sheet almost explodes with contradiction. Den Haag are on a five-game winning streak, and nothing about it is soft. They smashed Jong AZ 4-0 last time out; they battered FC OSS 5-1 before that; they have scored at least two goals in every outing for over a month. Luka Reischl and Evan Rottier are playing like men possessed—a one-two punch that, in this league, is untouchable. Rottier opens games with the kind of energy that puts defenses on the back foot before they even realize what’s happening, while Reischl has turned the penalty area into his own personal playground. You want to stop this Den Haag train? Good luck. They are outscoring, outworking, and outclassing everyone in sight.

But here’s where it gets spicy: Jong PSV is nobody’s punching bag. These aren’t youth players happy for the experience. No, they’re angry, ambitious, and have scores to settle. Let’s not sugarcoat it: their recent form is a rollercoaster—draws with FC OSS and MVV, a painful 3-5 loss to Cambuur, and a stinging home defeat to Roda. Yet, sandwiched in there is a 3-0 demolition of Den Bosch, a performance that showed exactly what Jong PSV is capable of when the planets align. Tai Abed Kassus—a menace in the box, a finisher with ice in his veins—has been clutch, popping up with late goals that define the new PSV mentality. When the chips are down, they fight. When they’re underestimated, they bite.

Let’s talk tactics. Den Haag are relentless in transition—the moment the ball turns over, they swarm like bees, pressing high, forcing mistakes, and unleashing the creativity of Jari Vlak and Cameron Peupion from midfield. Their fullbacks bomb forward with reckless abandon, and as their scoring record shows, when they get going, they don’t stop. Defensively, they’ve been sturdy but not impenetrable; a moment of overcommitment, and the right opponent can carve them open.

That’s where Jong PSV can hit. This is a team that thrives on chaos. They move the ball quickly, they attack spaces with frightening energy, and in Robin van Duiven and Jim Koller they have creators and finishers who love a big stage. Van Duiven’s brace against Den Bosch was a statement—he’s ready to lead this group, and with Kassus lurking, Den Haag’s high line could be ripe for a shock. Youth is unpredictable, but it’s also fearless; don’t be surprised if PSV goes toe-to-toe and tries to outrun the league leaders rather than shrink from them.

What’s at stake? Everything. For Den Haag, it’s about sending a message: we are not just first, we are untouchable. Another win, and they start to look like champions-elect, widening the gap, crushing hope in their rivals before winter even bites. For Jong PSV, this is validation. Win here, and the title race is real. Drop points, and the narrative becomes one of “maybe next year.” The psychological impact will echo far beyond the full-time whistle.

So here’s the call: forget past reputations. This will be electric, frantic, and absolutely decisive. Den Haag has all the form, all the swagger, all the expectation. But there’s a storm brewing in Eindhoven. The stars of Jong PSV have the audacity, the speed, and just enough arrogance to swing for the throne. I’m calling it now: don’t be surprised if youth trumps experience. I see a high-octane, goal-laden classic—Den Haag’s streak ends at De Herdgang. The moment Kassus gets space, the game will flip. Jong PSV, with nothing to lose and everything to prove, will win 3-2 in the game of the year. Buckle up.