MATCH PREVIEWS

PSV vs Ajax: Win or Wave Goodbye

Remember when PSV were flying? Early-season dominance, goals for fun, title favourites. Fast-forward to now, and things have gone sideways. Ajax smelled blood and pounced. Now, the two meet at Philips Stadion, and for PSV, it’s simple: win, or the title is gone.

Key Stats to Know

PSV’s form in Eindhoven hasn’t been disastrous, five wins, two draws, two losses in their last nine, but it hasn’t been enough to keep pace with Ajax’s charge. They’re still scoring plenty at home, averaging 2.0 goals per game from a strong xG of 2.43. But they’re conceding just as many, which tells the story.

Luuk de Jong remains the key man with 14 goals, and Ivan Perišić has started chipping in with a few of his own. They’ll need both firing.

Ajax, meanwhile, look like champions-elect. Five away wins from eight, with a stubborn defence giving up less than a goal per game. Kenneth Taylor is keeping pace with De Jong on 14 goals, and while they’ll miss Anton Gaaei through suspension, the squad looks settled and dangerous.

If PSV don’t take all three points here, Ajax will start to walk to the finish line. 

Betting Suggestions

PSV have the home edge, but Ajax are in killer mode. Still, the home side might scrape a 2-1 result at odds of 8.0 if they find their old form. Want something juicier? PSV to win 3-1 at 11.5 has that perfect mix of hope and chaos. And if you expect an early shootout, both Teams to Score in the 1st Half at 3.6 could land you something extra.

Feyenoord vs Go Ahead Eagles: De Kuip Demands a Response

Sunday’s spotlight is on Rotterdam as Feyenoord hosts Go Ahead at De Kuip. It’s not quite a blockbuster, but with injuries stacking up for the home side and Go Ahead punching above their weight, there’s a whiff of potential drama in the air.

Key Stats to Know

Feyenoord are tough to beat at home. Four wins, one draw, and a single loss in their last six in Rotterdam. Defensively, they’ve been brilliant, conceding just 0.5 goals per game, even though the xG suggests they’ve ridden their luck a bit. Up front, it’s been patchy. They’re scoring 1.5 per game, but the xG is lower at 1.32, which hints they’ve been making the most of limited chances.

Igor Paixão is the one to watch. Three goals in his last five and stepping up when it matters. But it’s not all smooth sailing. Calvin Stengs, Quinten Timber, and a handful of others are out injured, and Tyrell Malacia is suspended. It’s starting to feel like a walking wounded XI.

Go Ahead, sitting in seventh, are no pushovers either. Three wins, two draws, and two defeats in their last seven away games. They’ve been efficient in attack, averaging 1.71 goals per match from a modest xG of 1.1. That’s clinical. At the back, it’s a different story. They’re leaking 1.57 goals per game and not exactly unlucky either.

With top scorer J. Breum sidelined, it’s Oliver Antman stepping up, with three in his last five. But without Breum, that bite in the final third might dull.

Betting Suggestions

Feyenoord should have too much, even with a patched-up squad. A 2-1 home win looks about right, and the model gives them a 57% chance of taking the three points. It's not bulletproof, but it's hard to argue with.

Feeling bold?Go Ahead to win at 6.2 is for the dreamers. More sensible? Both Teams to Score in the 1st Half at 3.95 has some edge to it, especially if Feyenoord starts slow and Go Ahead comes out swinging.

WTF?

This Soccer Star Really Wants You to Know He's Not High 🤨

Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen is having quite the season: two goals in 27 games, a Spanish national team debut, and... explaining why he doesn't smoke weed? During a recent interview, the 6'6" defender had to address the elephant in the room when he was asked if he was "medicated on weed" due to his perpetually sleepy-looking eyes.

The numbers:

• Age: 19

• Height: 6'6"

• Goals this season: 2

• Games played: 27

• Number of times he's had to explain he's not high: Too many

Between the lines: The Amsterdam-born star blamed his droopy-eyed appearance on genetics ("I got it from my mom") and reminded everyone that cannabis would show up on doping tests. When pressed about a particularly red-eyed photo with a Man of the Match award, Huijsen explained it was from taking a soccer ball to the face, not from Amsterdam's famous coffee shops.

Bottom line: While Newcastle and Real Madrid are battling for his signature, Huijsen's biggest fight might be convincing people he's just naturally chill. Some guys just can't catch a break. 😴

DID YOU KNOW?

Dutch on Defense: Why Juve's Dutch Connection Is More Miss Than Hit 🇳🇱

While Italian clubs and Dutch players go together like pizza and... well, not always cheese. Juventus' history with Netherlands talent has been more of a mixed bag than a match made in heaven.

The hits:

• Edgar Davids: The OG success story (159 games, 3 Serie A titles)

• Van der Sar: A solid two-season stint before getting Buffon'd

• De Ligt: Recent pit stop on his way to bigger things (controversial?)

The misses:

• Elia: Blink and you missed his 4 appearances

• Various other Dutch experiments that didn't quite stick

Between the lines: Despite the Old Lady's reputation for turning defenders into legends, their track record with Dutch talent has been spotty at best. Only Davids really made it to club legend status, while others either served as expensive placeholders or quick footnotes in the club's rich history.

Bottom line: For a nation that's produced some of football's greatest talents, the Dutch-Juve connection has been more "it's complicated" than true love. Though, with Italian football's knack for drama, maybe that's exactly how it should be. 🖤⚪

MEME OF THE DAY

Some people just want to see others fail.

WHO WILL WIN?