The first De Topper meeting of the 2024-25 season and 186th overall sees Ajax host PSV Eindhoven at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Saturday in the pick of gameweek 11's Eredivisie action.
The historic Dutch sides enter the encounter occupying the first two spots in the league, albeit with the visitors eight points clear, having played a game more, putting the pressure of winning on Francesco Farioli's men.
Match preview
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Ajax have seemingly found their feet in the new regime as they aim to return to the summit of the Eredivisie, highlighted by clinching five consecutive league victories before Saturday's big-game battle.
Farioli's indifferent start, featuring two victories, a draw and a loss in the campaign's opening four games, dampened the mood in Amsterdam, but the subsequent results have lifted optimism.
Albeit from small sample sizes, the average improvement at both ends of the pitch underscores De Godenzonen's ongoing run.
The Italian manager's side averaged 2.0 goals in their first four fixtures, a statistic boosted by scoring five in their success over Fortuna Sittard (5-0) and conceding three goals (0.75), but that average now reads 2.4 (12 goals in five matches) and 0.8 (four goals conceded in five) heading into Saturday.
Ajax have kept three shutouts in recent times, and the conceded average of goals would have been lower had Farioli's team not let in three in their road success at Heracles (4-3) this month.
Supporters heading to the Johan Cruyff Arena hope their team's marginal improvement stands them in good stead as they bid to end a two-year winless run against the enemy, thus closing the gap atop the standings to five.
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Unblemished PSV have played one more game, scoring a boatload of goals (35) and letting in six before their 11th league match this term.
The defending Eredivisie champions are on pace to break their record for most points accrued (91) set in the previous campaign, when they eclipsed Ajax's 89 points from the 1997-98 campaign.
Although Boeren, favourites to clinch a 26th league crown this term, may not face the same pressure as this weekend's hosts, they aim to keep potential title rivals at bay in the title race — Ajax and Utrecht have 22 points.
With the closest sides to Peter Bosz's men to play against each other in their rescheduled match in early December, one of those sides will drop points in Amsterdam, possibly handing PSV an advantage atop the table.
Undefeated in the Eredivisie since March — a 3-1 loss at NEC — the table-topping club are unbeaten in 17 matches, winning 11 on the trot before Saturday's match, and aim to avoid losing against an opponent they have dominated in the past two years.
Team News
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Kenneth Taylor, withdrawn on the hour against Feyenoord on Wednesday, is doubtful for Saturday's match, possibly joining Sivert Mannsverk, Kristian Hlynsson (both have ankle issues), Julian Rijkhoff, Gaston Avila (knee) and Amourricho Van Axel-Dongen in Ajax's injury room.
Wout Weghorst has outscored every teammate in the home side's five-match winning run (three goals), and the Dutchman aims to add to his three Eredivisie strikes after firing blanks against Feyenoord mid-week.
Jorrel Hato — three assists, three big chances created — has been a creative presence from left-back and the defender, allied with Davy Klaassen — four goals, three big chances created — offer Farioli alternative game-changing solutions to Weghorst.
Former Ajax wide defender Sergino Dest is missing due to a knee injury, joining Hirving Lozano (muscle), Jerdy Schouten (hamstring) and Joey Veerman (groin) on PSV's treatment table, while Ivan Perisic will be assessed.
Even though Lozano (four goals) will miss out, Bosz can depend on Malik Tillman, Luuk de Jong, Ricardo Pepi (all on five goals) and Johan Bakayoko (four goals) to deliver the goods in Amsterdam.
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Rensch, Sutalo, Baas, Hato; Klaassen, Henderson, Fitz-Jim; Traore, Weghorst, Godts
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Junior, Flamingo, Boscagli, Dams; Til, Tillman, Saibari; Bakayoko, De Jong, Lang
We say: Ajax 1-2 PSV Eindhoven
Despite PSV missing Veerman's creativity at Ajax, the defending champions have so much attacking firepower to unpick Farioli's men. Thus, we back the visiting side to continue their winning run at the expense of their rivals in Saturday's De Topper clash.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
