Sven Mijnans scored a spectacular hat-trick as PSV Eindhoven came from behind to defeat Sparta Rotterdam 4–1 and move top of the Eredivisie.
PSV Eindhoven produced another emphatic attacking performance at the Philips Stadion, coming from behind to beat Sparta Rotterdam 4–1 on Matchday 6 of the 2026/27 Eredivisie season. The headline belonged to Sven Mijnans, who scored three times against his former club, while Kodai Sano celebrated his first official PSV goal.
The reigning Dutch champions also took advantage of AZ's draw against Willem II to move to the top of the Eredivisie table.
🔥 Sparta Shock PSV Early
The visitors stunned the home crowd after just 15 minutes.
PSV goalkeeper Matěj Kovář came off his line but failed to make contact with the ball, allowing Milan Zonneveld to collect possession and finish into an empty net.
The early setback forced PSV to increase the pressure, and the response was immediate.
🎯 Mijnans Levels Against His Former Club
Eight minutes after falling behind, PSV were level.
Esmir Bajraktarević delivered an excellent cross from the right, and Sven Mijnans rose to head the ball beyond Sparta goalkeeper Michael Brouwer.
Scoring against his former club was only the beginning of what would become a memorable night for the midfielder.
🚀 Kodai Sano Gives PSV the Lead
PSV completed the turnaround shortly before half-time.
In the 39th minute, Kodai Sano fired a low effort towards goal, with the wet conditions making the shot particularly difficult for Brouwer to handle.
The ball found its way into the net, giving Sano his first official goal in PSV colours and putting the champions 2–1 ahead.
🧨 Sparta Refuse to Surrender
Despite trailing, Sparta remained dangerous after the interval.
Zonneveld forced Kovář into an important save, while Mitchell van Bergen came close with an effort that narrowly missed the target.
The visitors also threatened from set pieces, with Bruno Martins Indi going close.
For a period, PSV were unable to completely kill the game.
💥 Mijnans Strikes Again
The decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute.
Paul Wanner's shot was saved by Brouwer, but the rebound fell perfectly for Mijnans, who reacted quickly to score his second of the night.
The goal gave PSV a 3–1 advantage and finally provided the breathing room they needed.
🎩 Mijnans Completes His Hat-Trick
There was still time for one final piece of brilliance.
In the 88th minute, Mijnans completed his hat-trick with a superb finish, sealing PSV's 4–1 victory.
His three goals were particularly impressive because they came in three different ways: with his head, his left foot and his right foot. It was also the first hat-trick of his professional career.
🛡️ Tactical Analysis
PSV: Relentless Pressure and Attacking Depth
PSV dominated possession and territory throughout the match.
Peter Bosz's team finished with 76% possession, 28 shots and 10 efforts on target. They also completed 715 passes and created sustained pressure around the Sparta penalty area.
The introduction of Ivan Perišić, Ruben van Bommel and Ricardo Pepi after the hour mark added further attacking quality.
Once PSV restored a two-goal cushion, their superior squad depth became increasingly important.
Sparta: Brave but Unable to Resist
Sparta deserve credit for making PSV uncomfortable for long periods.
Their early goal exposed a rare defensive mistake from Kovář, while their counterattacks continued to cause problems after half-time.
But PSV's sustained pressure eventually became too much.
The visitors simply could not maintain their defensive resistance against a side producing 28 shots and 17 attempts from inside the box.
⭐ Player of the Match: Sven Mijnans
There could only be one choice.
Sven Mijnans was the undisputed star of the evening.
The former Sparta player scored three goals against his old club and completed a remarkable hat-trick featuring a header, a left-footed finish and a right-footed strike.
His tally now stands at four Eredivisie goals this season, making him PSV's leading scorer after six league rounds.
📊 Match Statistics
| Statistic | PSV | Sparta |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 76% | 24% |
| Total Shots | 28 | 10 |
| Shots on Target | 10 | 6 |
| Corners | 9 | 5 |
| Passes Attempted | 771 | 236 |
| Passes Completed | 715 | 174 |
| Goals | 4 | 1 |
| xG | 3.8 | 2.3 |
The numbers underline PSV's territorial dominance, although Sparta's six shots on target show that the visitors remained dangerous whenever they managed to break forward.
⏱️ Goals Timeline
- 15' — Milan Zonneveld: PSV 0–1 Sparta
- 23' — Sven Mijnans: PSV 1–1 Sparta
- 39' — Kodai Sano: PSV 2–1 Sparta
- 74' — Sven Mijnans: PSV 3–1 Sparta
- 88' — Sven Mijnans: PSV 4–1 Sparta
📈 What the Result Means
The victory lifted PSV to 16 points after six matches, level with AZ but ahead on goal difference.
The defending champions remain unbeaten and have scored an extraordinary 22 goals across their opening six league matches.
For Sparta, the defeat leaves them searching for another league victory after a difficult night against the reigning champions.
🏁 Final Thoughts
PSV's evening began with an unexpected setback but ended with a comfortable victory.
Sparta shocked the champions through Zonneveld, but Mijnans quickly restored parity before Sano completed the first-half turnaround.
After the break, Sparta continued to fight, but PSV's pressure eventually broke their resistance.
Then came the Mijnans show.
Three goals, three different finishing methods and a memorable night against his former club.
With Kodai Sano also scoring his first PSV goal, the reigning champions left the Philips Stadion with another three points, the Eredivisie leadership and plenty of attacking momentum.
PSV 4–1 Sparta Rotterdam was ultimately a night that belonged to Sven Mijnans.