Eredivisie, the Lancers must defend the fifth place that is worth a Europa League pass: news and predictions.
With three days to spare, PSV Eindhoven won the 25th title in its history a week ago. It was a well-deserved triumph for Peter Bosz’s men, who dominated this edition of the Eredivisie from the first to the last day, collecting an impressive 87 points but, above all, scoring a beauty of 107 goals in 32 games. A war machine that now aims to close on a high note: in the penultimate round the newly reigning champions will be guests of Fortuna Sittard, a club that no longer has any concrete goals.
The yellow-greens are in fact situated in “no man’s land” and can no longer reach the playoff zone: at least three goals in total are expected, and it would not be a surprise if the hosts also scored at least one. Ajax, on the other hand, must compulsorily win, engaged at the Johan Cruijff Arena against Almere City. For the Lancers, unlike PSV, it has been a disastrous season, the likes of which they have not experienced in a long time in the Amsterdam parts. Ahead of a probable “revolution,” it will be necessary to win at least the Europa League qualification. By winning both upcoming matches Ajax, at +2 over sixth-ranked NEC, would be certain to finish in fifth place, the last valid to detach the pass for the second continental event.
The predictions on the other matches
On this day, Feyenoord, now certain of second place, might concede something. The team of Arne Slot, who from next year will be the coach of Liverpool, is on stage in Nijmegen against NEC, which must try to the last to overtake Ajax: there will be no shortage of goals.
Motivation could make the difference in two matches concerning the fight not to be relegated. On one side is third-last Excelsior, which can still avoid the promotion-relegation playoffs being -2 from Waalwijk, meanwhile engaged with PEC Zwolle, a team already saved. We hypothesize a positive result for both, since Excelsior’s opponent, Heracles, has lost its last three games badly. Finally, the battle for third place between Twente and AZ Alkmaar, separated by two points, is also gripping. Both should take the three points against Volendam and GA Eegles, respectively. Matches promising goals are those between Utrecht and Sparta Rotterdam and between Heerenveen and Vitesse, the latter already relegated long ago due to the very heavy 18-point penalty.
Eredivisie: possible winners
Ajax (in Ajax-Almere City).
Excelsior or draw (in Excelsior-Heracles)
AZ Alkmaar (in GA Eagles-AZ Alkmaar)
Waalwijk or draw (in Waalwijk-PEC Zwolle)
The matches of at least one goal per team
Utrecht-Sparta Rotterdam
NEC-Feyenoord
Eredivisie: matches with at least three goals total
Ajax-Almere City.
Twente-Volendam
Fortuna Sittard-PSV Eindhoven
Heerenveen-Vitesse