Eredivisie wrap: PSV thump Groningen, Heerenveen draw

PSV Eindhoven trimmed AZ Alkmaar’s lead at the top of the Eredivisie to three points on Saturday with a crushing 6-1 home win over Groningen.

Kevin Strootman, Dries Mertens, Zakaria Labyad, Georginio Wijnaldum, Tim Matavz and Ola Toivonen did the damage for hosts PSV at the Philips Stadion, with Nicklas Pedersen’s goal three minutes after half-time Groningen’s only bright spot on a bleak afternoon.

The result moves second-placed PSV to 31 points, just three points off pacesetters AZ, who defeated Utrecht 2-0 in Friday.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Heerenveen climbed above Ajax and into fourth place courtesy of a 2-2 draw at NAC Breda.

The visitors took the lead at the Rat Verlegh Stadion with a goal from Filip Djuricic just after the half-hour mark, but an Anthony Lurling strike and an own goal from Ramon Zomer put NAC 2-1 up at the interval.

Defender Daryl Janmaat was on hand at the 61-minute mark to secure a point for Heerenveen.

The draw moves them above Ajax, who are in action at NEC on Sunday.

Roda JC leapfrogged Heracles into 10th position with a 3-1 win over the Almelo-based club, with a second-half brace from Mads Junker doing much of the damage for the home side.

And De Graafschap scored a 2-1 away win over fellow relegation battlers VVV Venlo, with second-half strikes from Rydell Poepon and Yuri Rose cancelling out Michael Uchebo’s opener for the hosts.