With the title fight between Ajax and PSV possibly getting decided this Sunday, let's take a look at the status quo ahead of a crucial Eredivisie weekend.
1. PSV (76 points, +62 GD)
Remaining schedule:
Sunday, May 18th: Sparta Rotterdam (11.) - PSV (14.30 CET)
Weeks after effectively conceding the title to Ajax and admitting the goal was to finish in second place, PSV are back on top of the Eredivisie. After last Sunday's dramatic 3-2 win over Feyenoord put PSV one point behind Ajax, the 4-1 win over Heracles Almelo officially put them in the driver's seat ahead of Sunday's final matchday.
Sparta Rotterdam, who surprised Ajax in Amsterdam by grabbing a point, have massively improved since the turn of the year and have lost just one of their last ten Eredivisie games.
Additionally, Maurice Steijn's men are in the heat of the battle for the final two tickets for the play-offs for European football. NEC and Heerenveen occupy the crucial eighth and ninth spots with 40 points, and Sparta follows with 39 points. FC Groningen (39 points), PEC Zwolle, and Heracles Almelo (38 points) are still in the race.
2. Ajax (75 points, +33 GD)
Remaining schedule:
Sunday, May 18th: AJAX - FC Twente (5.) (14.30 CET)
In an unbelievable turn of events, Ajax gave away a 9-point lead in the final weeks of the competition following Wednesday's dramatic 2-2 draw away at FC Groningen. A 99th-minute equaliser from Thijmen Blokzijl handed PSV the top spot in the Eredivisie. It took the initiative away from the record champions, who now need a miracle to win their first title since 2022.
Ajax will close out the season against FC Twente, who are guaranteed a spot in the play-offs for European football and have won two of the previous four meetings with Ajax. But Ajax know what it's like to win the league after a meeting with FC Twente on the last day: on May 15th, 2011, Ajax beat FC Twente 3-1 in a final-like matchup for the Eredivisie title.
Scenarios in which PSV win the league
PSV beat Sparta, Ajax beat, draw, or lose to FC Twente
It's as simple as that: if PSV beat Sparta in Rotterdam, the 25-time champions officially become the 26-time champions.
PSV and Sparta draw, Ajax and FC Twente draw
PSV are champions as they hold onto their one-point lead.
PSV and Sparta draw, FC Twente beat Ajax
PSV are champions as they win the league by two points.
Sparta beat PSV, Ajax and FC Twente draw
PSV are champions by merit of goal difference, seeing as though it's highly unlikely for Ajax to beat FC Twente by 26 goals or more.
Sparta beat PSV, FC Twente beat Ajax
PSV are champions as they hold onto their one-point lead.
Scenarios in which Ajax win the league
Ajax beat FC Twente, PSV and Sparta draw
Ajax are champions as they win the league by one point.
Ajax beat FC Twente, Sparta beat PSV
Ajax are champions as they win the league by two points.
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