The Eredivisie returns this weekend after a two-week break, and a blockbuster De Topper clash is on the cards this Sunday, when PSV Eindhoven play host to Ajax at Philips Stadion.
Both these sides will now have their sights solely set on winning the league this season, having crashed out of the European competitions ahead of the international break.
Match preview
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After winning 14 of their first 16 games this season, PSV Eindhoven have experienced a notable drop-off since the start of 2025 and are now aiming to make up a six-point gap to their upcoming opponents, who lead the league standings.
Following their 9-3 thrashing against Arsenal over two legs in the round of 16 of the Champions League, the Boeren went into the international break off the back of a 3-0 away win over relegation candidates RKC Waalwijk on March 15.
Ivan Perisic struck first to give his side the lead just four minutes into the match, Noa Lang doubled their advantage five minutes before the interval, and Luuk de Jong took them out of sight with the third goal before the hour mark.
While that performance was more in keeping with what we have come to expect from Peter Bosz's side, it was only their second win in their last six league games and just their fourth in the last 11 since mid-December.
However, the defending champions are still unbeaten on their home patch this season with 10 wins and three draws in their 13 league games, and have only failed to score two or more goals in one of those matches.
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Meanwhile, Ajax suffered disappointment in the Europa League earlier this month when they were ejected from the competition in the round of 16 by Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt 6-2 on aggregate.
Following their elimination, De Godenzonen played out a 2-2 draw against AZ Alkmaar a couple of weeks ago in a match where both sides ended with 10 men on the field after Anton Gaaei and Alexandre Penetra were sent off.
Gaaei had pulled his side level just before the hour mark after Zico Buurmeester opened the scoring, while Oliver Edvardsen struck the back of the net to earn Ajax a share of the spoils two minutes after Ibrahim Sadiq had restored AZ's lead.
That result came after 10 consecutive league wins for Francesco Farioli's side dating back to early December, and the Italian tactician has still only tasted defeat twice in the top flight since arriving in Amsterdam at the start of the season.
Both Ajax's defeats this season have come in away games, but they will have a slight psychological advantage entering this match, having beaten this opponent 3-2 in the reverse fixture at home back in November.
Team News
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Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman have been out of action for PSV since January with a knee and leg injury, respectively, and both players are unlikely to return to the team before the end of the season.
Lucas Perez, who joined the champions on a free transfer in February, was diagnosed with tuberculosis earlier this week, and the club have confirmed that the centre-forward will be out for a 'long time'.
Mauro Junior and Richard Ledezma both missed the last match against RKC before the international break with knocks, but the pair are expected to be back in contention to feature this week.
Ajax will have to make do without Anton Gaaei this weekend following his sending off last time out, and he is likely to be replaced by Brazilian full-back Lucas Rosa in the starting lineup.
Veteran goalkeeper Remko Pasveer is still struggling with a back issue, which should see Matheus continue between the sticks, while at the other end of the pitch, Brian Brobbey is expected to lead the line in the absence of Wout Weghorst.
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Karsdorp, Flamingo, Boscagli, Malacia; Til, Veerman, Babadi; Perisic, De Jong, Lang
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Matheus; Rosa, Sutalo, Baas, Hato; Mokio, Henderson, Taylor; Godts, Brobbey, Traore
We say: PSV Eindhoven 2-2 Ajax
While PSV have experienced a notable dip in league form over the last couple of months, they have still maintained their unbeaten record at home this season and will know that a win here will be crucial to their hopes of regaining the lead in the league standings.
Ajax were absolutely flying in the Eredivisie before the international break, and while they would likely love nothing more than to take all three points in this contest, we feel there will be nothing to split these two on the scoreline at the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
