Dutch Eredivisie a Two-Horse Race Between Ajax & PSV; Ajax Favored at -150 Odds
- Amsterdam outfit aim to build on last season’s double
- Stars de Jong and de Ligt have departed but squad has been re-moulded
- Eindhoven face battle to match rivals’ strength
Ajax are in a familiar situation as they attempt to retain the Netherlands’ Eredivisie title after losing two of their brightest young stars to bigger European clubs.
The club has long served as a talent production factory for more wealthy outfits. This summer they have lost highly-rated midfielder Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona and defender Matijs de Ligt to Juventus.
Netherlands Eredivisie Odds 2019-20
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ajax | -150 |
| PSV Eindhoven | +110 |
| Feyenoord | +2000 |
| AZ Alkmaar | +3300 |
| FC Utrecht | +5000 |
*Odds taken at 2019/07/26.
But they are still correctly favored to win the league title at -150 after impressing so much last season by winning a domestic double and reaching the semifinals of the Champions League.
Their close rivals PSV Eindhoven are narrowly behind at +110 but they are simply not strong enough to match Ajax’s revival.
Feyenoord Well Adrift
The bookies are right to view it as a two-horse race, with Holland’s third major club, Feyenoord, priced at way out at +2000 as third favorites.
Only once in the past nine seasons have Feyenoord managed to break the Ajax-PSV duopoly at the top. That was when they claimed the prize in 2016-17.
However, last season, while Ajax won a close fight with PSV – winning the title with 86 points to Eindhoven’s 83 – Feyenoord of Rotterdam were way off the pace in third place with 65 points.
Rotterdam, here’s your ? number 7️⃣!
? LUCIANO NARSINGH#7UCIANO #Feyenoord pic.twitter.com/uLMKOrdbD5
— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) July 5, 2019
An early indicator ahead of the new season will come when Ajax and PSV meet in the Dutch Super Cup curtain-raiser to the new season in Amsterdam on Saturday, July 27, 2019 at 12:00 pm EST.
Ajax re-established themselves at the top of Dutch football last season after four years without a title win.
The Eredivisie competition begins on August 3.
Ajax re-established themselves at the top of Dutch football last season after four years without a title win.
PSV won the league in three of those four seasons. But Ajax are now determined to remain dominant and have re-strengthened their squad far more comprehensively than PSV, aided by the financial windfall of the Champions League run.
Along with their league and cup double at home, they defeated Real Madrid and Juventus in knockout ties before being eliminated from the Champions League’s last four by Tottenham Hotspur.
Barcelona and Juventus Captured Young Stars
Barcelona’s deal for de Jong was completed early last season. It was also long expected that de Ligt would depart for Italy this summer.
When @EdsonAlvarez19 sees his own announce video for the first time… ???#VamosEdson pic.twitter.com/RzWgy5pX1H
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) July 23, 2019
Coach Erik ten Hag has compensated for the loss of the two young Dutch internationsals with a series of big signings,
The left winger Quincy Promes has been signed from Sevilla for $23 million. Centre-back Edson Alvarez has arrived from Mexico’s Club America for $21 million. Romanian midfielder Razvan Marin has been captured from Standard Liege or $18 million. They are among seven new arrivals.
Eindhoven’s major purchase is the Portugeuse left winger Brouma who has been recruited from RB Leipzig for $21.7 million.
Feyenoord have made only free transfer signings. They have also lost veteran striker Robin van Persie who has retired after contributing 16 goals last season.
They have also bought German centre back Timo Baumgartl from Stuttgart for $14.5 million.
A new German beast! ??#TimoIstDa pic.twitter.com/LIbma2WmLA
— PSV (@PSV) July 25, 2019
Last season’s Dutch joint-top scorer Luuk de Jong has left for Sevilla and left back Angelino has joined Manchester City.
Feyenoord have made only free transfer signings. They have also lost veteran striker Robin van Persie who has retired after contributing 16 goals last season. Meanwhile, midfielder Tonny Vilhena has departed for Russia’s Krasnodar for £12 million.
Pick: Ajax -150
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
