PSV v Ajax
Sunday 23rd September 1545hrs
Football – Netherlands – Eredivisie
Pick Both teams to score
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: 19/10 (odds taken 16.00 GMT, Saturday 21 September)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/5 | 29/10 | 6/5 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on September 21, 2019 at 16.00)
The biggest game in Dutch football takes place on Sunday as PSV and Ajax go head to head. The two clubs are level on points at the top of the Eredivisie and the title is set to be between them once again.
PSV Preview – Can PSV make home advantage count once again in this fixture?
It would have been an excruciating summer for all concerned at PSV having narrowly missed out on the title. Despite winning over 80 points and scoring 98 goals, it was only good enough for second place and they had to watch on as rivals Ajax completed a clean sweep of the domestic trophies. The Eindhoven club also waved goodbye to star player Hirving Lozano who moved to Napoli. This campaign didn’t start off terribly well either after failing to reach the group stages of the Champions League and losing to Ajax in the Dutch Super Cup. There’s been no panic from Mark Van Bommel, though, and he brings his side into this game in very good form.
Thursday’s win at home to Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League was PSV’s sixth straight win in all competitions and their fourth successive league win, having drawn away to Twente on the opening day of the season. Since then it’s been four games played, four wins and 13 goals scored. It’s good enough to see them in second but level on points with Ajax. One of their standouts so far this season has been Donyell Malen who has six goals in five league games including an incredible five goal haul last weekend. He could well be the striker the Netherlands have been yearning for and scored on his recent international debut.
Ajax Preview – Will champions show their class and continue setting the pace on top of the table?
It was a season for the history books last time around as Ajax completed a clean sweep of domestic trophies and came within seconds of making the Champions League final. It was achieved with the team playing some terrific football with a core of homegrown players. The mass exodus has not really happened but the players they have lost do not seem to have had a significant impact on the performances of the team on the evidence so far. A comfortable win the the Dutch Super Cup, qualifying for the Champions League (easily winning their first group game) and sitting on top of the Eredivisie courtesy of a better goal difference than their weekend opponents.
Ajax have so many admirers because of their approach to the game and it’s easy to see why. To have scored 19 goals in five games it’s just picking up where they left off last season when scoring an amazing 119 league goals. The one surprise has been dropping points away to Vitesse in their opening game but they have not looked back since. Every other opponent has conceded at least four goals but interestingly, three of those four teams have managed to score themselves.
Key-Facts – PSV v Ajax
- PSV were left licking their wounds last season after finishing second and will be looking for revenge over Ajax
- Ajax scored 119 goals on their way to the Dutch title last season and have already scored 19 in five games this season
- Home advantage has been crucial in this fixture in recent times with no away team having won since March 2016
PSV v Ajax Betting Advice
Nobody would have expected any other team to challenge for the title in the Netherlands this season and the early games have shown nothing to change that. Ajax are fancied by many to retain their title but PSV are going to be a big threat to that and are very consistent domestically. Home advantage has also been important in the recent history of this game. The last five meetings in the league have went the way of the home team. That equates to three wins for PSV. Ajax have not managed as much as a goal in that time.
There’s no doubt that Ajax have had more attention because of their European form but as last season showed there is little to split these two in the league. Despite being at home PSV are the underdogs in this game and I’m not sure that’s right. PSV have not lost a home game in the league for three years when Feyenoord were victorious on the same weekend. They are great value for that win tomorrow.
